Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei assassinated; 40 days of mourning declared in Iran

TEHRAN: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed killed in the US-Israeli joint military operation. Although information related to Khamenei's death emerged last night, officials in Iran denied it. After hours of ambiguity, Iran has finally accepted the news of the Supreme Leader’s death. Khamenei's daughter and granddaughter were killed in the airstrike. Iranian news agencies such as Tasnim and Fars confirmed the news. Forty days of official mourning were declared in the country following Khamenei's death. Seven days of holidays were also declared.

Israeli authorities announced that Khamenei's body had been found in the rubble of a building. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday claimed that Khamenei was eliminated; however, the news lacked veracity. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that Khamenei and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian were safe.

The joint Israeli-US strikes on Iran began on Saturday morning. Reports emerged that Khamenei's palace was destroyed in the attack, and the supreme leader was moved to a safe location. Israel also claimed that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour was killed in the attack. Pakpour, one of Iran's most powerful men, rose to this position following the assassination of his predecessor, Hossein Salami.