Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, was killed Saturday in a joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel, President Donald Trump announced via social media. The confirmation came as Iranian state media also reported Khamenei’s death, though details surrounding the circumstances remained limited.
Trump characterized Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in History,” and stated that many members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military, and security forces “no longer want to fight” and are seeking immunity. He indicated that bombing would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, THE WORLD!”
The 86-year-classic Khamenei had held the position of supreme leader since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of Iran’s 1979 revolution. During his 36-year rule, Khamenei maintained a steadfast opposition to the U.S. And Israel, and resisted efforts toward internal reform, according to NPR reporting.
A senior U.S. Intelligence official and multiple Israeli sources confirmed the news to CBS News. An Israeli broadcaster reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been shown a photograph of Khamenei’s body.
The attack, which targeted a compound in Tehran, also resulted in the deaths of seven Iranian officials and commanders, including Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Khamenei, according to the Israel Defense Forces. Reuters reported that people were seen celebrating in the streets of Tehran following the announcement.
Khamenei was born in July 1939 in Mashhad, Iran, and became an outspoken opponent of the U.S.-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, leading to multiple arrests. He was a contemporary of Ayatollah Khomeini and played a role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981, which resulted in the loss of function in his right arm.
The IRNA news agency, Iran’s state-run news outlet, did not provide details regarding Khamenei’s cause of death. Tasnim, a semi-official news agency linked to the IRGC, reported that he died as a result of the attack. It remains unclear who will succeed Khamenei as supreme leader.
