Iranian state media confirmed this Saturday (28) the death of the country’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, following coordinated attacks launched by the United States and Israel against targets in Tehran and other Iranian cities.
According to information released by official vehicles and shared by the EFE agency, Khamenei died as a result of the bombing of his official house. The confirmation ends days of conflicting versions, following initial statements by United States President Donald Trump, who had already stated that the ayatollah was dead.
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Who was Ali Khamenei, Iran’s top leader, killed by the US and Israel
According to state media, Iranian authorities officially recognized the death of the supreme leader, who had held the position since 1989, when he took over after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. At 86 years old, Khamenei was the country’s highest political and religious authority and exerted direct influence over the Armed Forces, foreign policy and Iran’s nuclear program.
The confirmation marks a historic rupture in the Islamic Republic’s regime and opens a period of uncertainty regarding the succession in command of the country. According to the Iranian Constitution, the process involves the Council of Experts, responsible for nominating the new supreme leader.
The offensive that resulted in Khamenei’s death occurred amid the military escalation between Iran, the United States and Israel, and has already left hundreds dead, according to local authorities.
Khamenei’s family members also died in the attacks
The Iranian agency Fars, linked to the Revolutionary Guards, also reported that the ayatollah’s immediate family also died in the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel on Saturday.
According to the vehicle, Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and grandson were killed during the bombings. The agency also stated that one of the leader’s daughters-in-law also did not resist the attacks. The information would have been confirmed after contact with sources from the Ayatollah’s own office.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent, the attacks have left more than 200 people dead in the country. At an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council, the Iranian ambassador classified the action as a “war crime” and “crime against humanity”.
The full extent of the damage has not yet been independently verified, as the regime restricts international press access to the affected areas.
