Iran confirms death, reveals how Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed

By Tolulope Oke

Iranian state media have confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a military strike on his office in Tehran during a coordinated offensive by the United States and Israel, state broadcasters reported on Sunday.

According to the report, Khamenei was at his workplace, his official office carrying out his assigned duties in the early hours of Saturday morning when the attack struck.

State television described the assault as a “cowardly attack,” saying the strikes hit the Leadership House compound in central Tehran, severely damaging buildings where Iran’s most senior leadership work and reside.

The announcement followed earlier claims by U.S. and Israeli officials that their forces had targeted high‑level Iranian leadership locations. U.S. President Donald Trump openly stated that Khamenei was killed during a joint military operation, saying the Iranian leader “was unable to avoid our intelligence and tracking systems”. Israeli statements also indicated that strikes on his compound had been carried out.

State media added that several members of Khamenei’s family were also killed in the attack. Iran has since declared 40 days of national mourning and described the loss of its supreme leader as a profound blow to the nation.

Under the Iranian constitution, the next Supreme Leader must be chosen by the clerical Assembly of Experts, though organising that process amidst ongoing military conflict may be difficult. In the short term, leadership responsibilities could fall to a council made up of top government and judicial figures.