Iranian media Press TV reported on Sunday that the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in Israeli-American strikes. After this incident, 40 days of public mourning is being observed in Iran.
In a post on X, Press TV said, “Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, martyred in US-Israeli attacks on Iran.”
Reuters quoted Iranian state media as saying that Iran has also declared 40 days of national mourning to commemorate the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Let us tell you that in Shia Islam, the 40th day after death (Arabeen) is very important from the spiritual point of view.
The incident occurred following attacks by the US and Israel on Saturday (Operation Epic Fury/Lions Roar). The government has followed a strong cultural tradition by declaring exactly 40 days of mourning, giving the religious establishment time to process this transition behind closed doors.
The office of the country’s supreme leader has declared a period of national mourning, under which flags will fly at half-mast and public gatherings will be held to pay tribute, marking the closing of a 37-year chapter in the Islamic Republic’s history.
Ayatollah Khamenei was the successor of the revolution’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. Since 1989, their “story” has been one of unwavering resistance against Western influence.
Authorities have stepped up security across the country, especially in major cities such as Tehran, to prevent unrest and ensure public safety.
All eyes are on the process of selecting Khamenei’s successor, with speculation about possible candidates and their impact on Iran’s future leadership.
However, holding meetings in wartime conditions is difficult, and the most important question is whose future lies in the hands of the Republic…in the hands of the clerics or in the hands of the Revolutionary Guards…this is the biggest unresolved question.
His death is being portrayed by the state media as the martyrdom of the protector, and his end not as a defeat, but as the ultimate sacrifice for the sovereignty of the nation.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s official Persian account confirmed his death early Sunday and published a verse from the Quran. According to Tasnim News, Khamenei was assassinated at his workplace early on Sunday.
The official Persian page posted on the
According to Tasnim News, Khamenei was assassinated in his office early Sunday morning. “The supreme leader of the Islamic Revolution was martyred at his residence. He was performing his assigned duties and was present in the office at the time of his martyrdom. This cowardly attack took place in the early hours of Sunday,” X said.
Earlier, The Times of Israel, quoting Iran’s state media, reported that Ali Khamenei’s daughter, granddaughter, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were killed in the Israel-US strikes. The Israeli newspaper said there was no official information on Khamenei’s own fate.
The news of Ayatollah Khamenei’s death was also published on the front page of Jerusalem Post. Meanwhile, various reports coming from Iran suggest that people have taken to the streets to celebrate.
CNN reported celebrations in several cities across Iran. According to news reports, whistles were heard on the streets of the city, people were cheering and shouting slogans like ‘Death to the Islamic Republic’ and ‘Long live the Shah’.
Fox News posted a video and reported that Iranians were celebrating Khamenei’s death on the streets of Besat town, a suburb of Karaj city in Iran.
Former Israeli spokesman Eyalon A. Levy posted another celebratory video on Twitter, saying, “Iranian women are dancing in the streets after hearing the news that Israel killed dictator Khamenei – without covering their hair. Many Western leaders should be ashamed of their cowardly reaction this morning. We will all remember this.”
Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad posted another video with the message, “Video of Iranian people celebrating inside Iran, am I dreaming? Hello, new world.”
In another self-made video, Alinejad further said, “Every morning I wake up reading that Ali Khamenei is killing my people. But this is the first morning in my life when I get this good news and I want to run. I just want to run and scream, scream with joy.”
News from London also showed videos of expatriate Iranian and Israeli citizens dancing and celebrating together on the streets of London.
Earlier, exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi had urged Iranians to unite and support a stable transition toward a free and prosperous future following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and described any efforts by the regime to appoint a successor as “doomed to failure.”
He also warned whether efforts to save the collapsing regime would succeed.
Pahlavi wrote in a post on If you install him in power, he will neither get legitimacy nor longevity, and he will undoubtedly be complicit in the crimes of this regime.”
He further wrote, “My plea to the military, law enforcement, and security forces is: Any effort to save a collapsing regime will fail. This is your last opportunity to join the nation, help ensure Iran’s stable transition toward a free and prosperous future, and participate in building that future.”
Pahlavi said Khamenei’s death could console the families of those who lost their lives in Iran’s Lion and the Sun National Revolution, and he urged people to remain vigilant and united.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump took responsibility for the Ayatollah’s death and called it justice for the people of Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Khamenei, one of the most brutal men in history, has been killed. This is justice not only for the people of Iran, but also for all the great Americans and the people of the many countries around the world who were killed or maimed by Khamenei and his gang of bloody goons. However, heavy and precise bombing throughout the week or so will not achieve our objective of peace in the Middle East and, indeed, the entire world. “It will continue without any interruption as long as necessary.”
