Trump and Netanyahu say Khamenei is dead as Iranian media deny the claims
US President Donald Trump and Israeli leaders have said Iran’s supreme leader khamenei has been killed in the latest round of US-Israeli strikes, while Iranian state-linked media call him "steadfast and firm" and Tehran offers denials. The competing claims have left officials and residents awaiting official confirmation.
Trump calls Khamenei’s death "justice"
Donald Trump said the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was "justice for the people of Iran" and twice described the leader as killed, repeating a call for regime change and saying, "The war that, for me, began in 2019 – and that I became directly involved in starting in 2022 – we are now winning. We have avenged the blood of our friends. " Trump oversaw the US-Israeli attack early Saturday from Mar-a-Lago in Florida, a White House photo shows, with CIA director John Ratcliffe, secretary of state Marco Rubio and White House chief of staff Susie Wiles in the room.
Netanyahu says 'many signs' Khamenei 'no longer alive'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had seen "many signs" that Khamenei may have been killed. At the United Nations, Israel's ambassador Danny Danon described criticism of the strikes as "hypocrisy" and said Israel and the US acted to prevent "an irreversible and immediate threat. " Danon told reporters, "Some call this aggression. We call it necessity. We call it survival, " and when asked whether the supreme leader had been killed he said only that Israel "will continue to target the leadership of the radical regime. "
Tehran reaction: celebrations and denials
In Tehran, residents reacted to news of the possible assassination with street gatherings. One description said, "All the people have come out into the streets and are celebrating. The sound of screams, shouting and celebration is coming from all over the city. It's a very emotional moment. " At the same time, Iran's semi-official Tasnim and Mehr news agencies contradicted Israeli reports, saying the supreme leader is "steadfast and firm in commanding the field. " Observers and officials have said they await official confirmation.
Missile strike near Tel Aviv and civilian injuries
An Iranian missile struck in the Tel Aviv area "about half an hour ago, " following sirens and explosions, and Israeli seven people were injured, one badly. Images from the scene show firefighters outside badly damaged apartment buildings in the area hit.
How US officials monitored the operation
While Trump was at Mar-a-Lago overseeing the strikes, the White House said vice-president JD Vance was in the Situation Room at the White House, monitoring the operation with senior officials. Those listed in the monitoring group included energy secretary Chris Wright, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and treasury secretary Scott Bessent. The Mar-a-Lago makeshift room was noted as the site Trump used for the operation; he had also used that room during a US operation to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro last month.
Statements from Israeli leaders and the US presidency point to a major escalation in the strikes, while Iranian state-linked agencies reject the claim that the supreme leader has been killed. We await official confirmation.
