Trump Claims Iran’s Supreme Leader Killed in U.S.–Israel Strikes

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.–Israeli attack on Iran.

In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that Khamenei had been killed. He wrote, “Khamenei, one of the most brutal figures in history, has been eliminated. This is justice not only for the Iranian people, but also for the citizens of countries around the world who were killed by Khamenei and his murderous network.”

The United States and Israel began launching strikes on Iran’s capital, Tehran, on Saturday. The Israeli Air Force (IAF) said its fighter jets carried out precise attacks targeting Iranian military positions. According to the Israeli military, seven senior members of Iran’s defense leadership were killed in the strikes.

Those reportedly killed include Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Pakpour, Saleh Asadi, Mohammad Shirazi, Aziz Nasirzadeh, Hossein Jabal Amelian, and Reza Mozafari-Nia, the Israeli army said.

Meanwhile, exiled former Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called on the Iranian people to unite. Following Trump’s claim about Khamenei’s death, Pahlavi urged citizens to support what he described as “a stable transition toward a free and prosperous future.” He also called for preventing any attempt by the current government to appoint a successor on its own.

Trump further stated that bombing would continue throughout the week in an effort to establish peace in the Middle East and beyond.

However, Iran has denied reports that Khamenei was killed. The Iranian government said the Supreme Leader is alive and continues to issue directives related to the ongoing conflict. Despite the denial, several international media outlets have prominently reported on claims surrounding Khamenei’s alleged death.