Iran’s state media has confirmed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader since 1989, has died at the age of 86. The announcement came early Sunday morning following a round of U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Tehran and other Iranian targets amid a major regional escalation. Iranian state television declared a 40-day period of national mourning and announced seven days of public holidays across the country.
State reports said Khamenei died “while performing his assigned duties,” and Iranian officials blamed Israel and the United States for his death, describing him as a martyr. The strikes occurred as tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel reached a critical point, with all sides exchanging attacks.
Khamenei was one of the most powerful figures in the Middle East, holding ultimate authority over Iran’s political, religious, and military institutions for more than three decades. His death creates a power vacuum in Iran’s theocratic leadership, with the Assembly of Experts expected to convene to choose his successor.
Regional responses have been mixed, with some leaders calling for calm and others warning of further escalation. The political and security ramifications of his death are expected to be significant, both within Iran and across the wider Middle East. (NewsWire)