Iran Confirms Death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, Daughter

Iran Confirms Death of Supreme Leader Khamenei, Daughter

The Islamic Republic of Iran has officially confirmed the death of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, following reports that he was killed during a joint United States and Israeli military strike.

State broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) announced on Sunday morning that the 86-year-old cleric died in the attack, alongside his daughter, son-in-law and grandson. The confirmation came after earlier denials amid widespread speculation about his fate.

In a brief statement, the broadcaster described Khamenei’s death as martyrdom.

“The Supreme Leader of Iran has reached martyrdom. This great scholar and mujahid sacrificed his life to lift Iran and he is in the grand presence of martyrs above,” the statement said.

Iranian authorities have declared 40 days of national mourning in honour of the late leader.

Khamenei had served as Iran’s highest authority since 1989, succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of the 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the US-backed monarch, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Over more than three decades in power, Khamenei presided over a turbulent period marked by strained relations with Western powers, particularly the United States. His tenure saw sweeping economic sanctions, recurring domestic protests over economic hardship and civil liberties, and rising regional tensions.

He frequently criticised Washington, describing it as Iran’s foremost adversary, while also condemning Israel as a hostile force in the region.

The confirmation of his death marks a historic turning point for Iran, raising questions about succession and the country’s political future amid heightened regional tensions.