Tehran — Iranian state media have reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has died following a massive joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on Iran.
State-aligned news agencies Tasnim News Agency and Fars News Agency said the 86-year-old leader was killed during coordinated military operations that struck key sites in and around Tehran. The reports follow claims by U.S. and Israeli officials that senior Iranian leadership figures were among those targeted in the latest wave of attacks.
Iranian official media said the government has declared 40 days of public mourning, a period traditionally observed in the Islamic Republic following the death of senior religious or political leaders.
The announcement signals the gravity of the moment for Iran, where the supreme leader holds ultimate authority over political, military and religious institutions.
The reported death comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with missile exchanges and airspace closures reported across several countries in the region. Governments in the Gulf have urged restraint as concerns grow over broader instability.
Global markets and diplomatic channels are closely monitoring the situation, particularly given Iran’s strategic position along major energy transit routes.
