Iran’s state media on Monday confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died, citing a statement from the Supreme National Security Council.
The announcement followed earlier claims by U.S. President Donald Trump that Khamenei was killed during joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple locations across Iran.
The council’s statement did not specify how the 86-year-old leader died. It also made no reference to a successor.
U.S. intelligence and military sources told CBS that about 40 Iranian officials were killed in the air raids, including Khamenei. Israel earlier said it had killed seven senior Iranian officials.
Trump said the bombing campaign would continue. He described the moment as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.”
Iran responded with attacks across the Middle East. Suspected Iranian strikes were reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain and Kuwait, locations that host U.S. military bases or maintain close ties with Washington.
Iran’s Red Crescent said more than 200 people were killed nationwide. Iranian officials said at least 108 died when strikes hit a girls’ school.
