Reports of Khamenei’s Death Appear Credible, Says Trump

Reports of Khamenei’s Death Appear Credible, Says Trump

United States President, Donald Trump, said on Saturday that reports suggesting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in recent air strikes “feel correct,” though he stopped short of making a definitive confirmation.

Speaking to NBC News, Trump said, “We feel that that is a correct story,” in response to multiple reports claiming Khamenei died during coordinated military operations.

In a separate interview with ABC News, the US president urged caution, saying, “I don’t want to say anything definitively until I see things, but we believe he is. And many of their leaders are gone.”

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “many signs” indicating that Khamenei had been killed in an attack targeting his compound, part of a joint US-Israeli military campaign.

The wave of strikes on Saturday targeted key locations in Iranian cities, including the capital, Tehran, triggering explosions and columns of smoke across parts of the city.

Washington described the action as aimed at neutralising what it called imminent threats, while Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz characterised it as a “preventive strike.”

In a video posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that “The United States’ military began major combat operations in Iran.” He added that the bombing campaign would continue as long as necessary.

“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective,” Trump wrote. He further declared that US forces would “destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground,” adding, “We’re going to annihilate their navy.”

Trump also argued that the reported death of Khamenei, which Iranian authorities have yet to confirm, presents “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.”

Meanwhile, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces had successfully repelled retaliatory attacks from Iran following the initial strikes.

“CENTCOM forces successfully defended against hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks,” the command said in a statement. It added that there were “no reports of US casualties or combat-related injuries,” and that damage to American installations was “minimal” and had not affected operations.

As tensions continue to rise in the region, Iran has yet to officially confirm the reported death of its Supreme Leader, leaving the situation fluid and uncertain.