Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been martyred in a U.S. and Israeli attack.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, has been confirmed killed in coordinated strikes by United States and Israel forces, Iranian state media reported. The attacks occurred early Saturday, hitting Khamenei’s office and reportedly killing several senior officials alongside him. State television announced nationwide 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holiday to honor his death.
Iran’s government also confirmed that some of Khamenei’s close family members, including his daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter, were killed in the strikes, intensifying national grief and anger. Public mourning gatherings and protests erupted across cities as officials vowed to respond decisively to what they have called an act of “aggression.”
The death of Khamenei, a pivotal and controversial figure in Middle Eastern politics, creates a leadership vacuum in Tehran at a moment of escalating regional tensions. Iranian military leaders and the Revolutionary Guards have promised retaliation, signaling a potential surge in hostilities across the region. The confirmation of the attack and declared mourning period marks a significant escalation in the conflict between Iran, the U.S., and Israel, raising global concerns about broader instability.
