- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead, claimed US President Trump
- Trump announced the killing on his social media platform Truth Social
- He credited US intelligence and Israeli cooperation for the operation's success
Hours after the US-Israel's joint military operation, US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah was dead.
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "there are many signs" that Khamenei has been killed. The Iranian side has not commented on the matter so far. Iran's Foreign Minister told NBC News that Khamenei was alive "as far as I know", adding that "all high-ranking officials are alive".
Also asked about Khamenei's health, foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told the BBC he was "not in a situation to confirm anything", but "the whole system, the whole nation is focused on defending (our) national integrity".
"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS," Trump claimed in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
"He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do," Trump added.
“This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” the US President said.
Here is what the US president posted on Truth Social in full:
'30 Bombs Dropped At Khamenei's Residence'
Some of the first strikes on Saturday hit areas near Khamenei's offices, though reports suggest he had already been moved to a secure location beforehand. A satellite image posted by the New York Times showed visible damage to his compound in Tehran, which also serves as his official residence.
Channel 12's Amit Segal, known to be close to Netanyahu, said, "Thirty bombs were dropped on the complex. Ali Khamenei was underground, but probably not in his own bunker."
Here's a before-and-after of satellite images showing damage to Khamenei's residence.
After the strikes, both Netanyahu and Trump hinted at regime change in Iran.
"To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don't leave your home. It's very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations," Trump said after the strike.
Netanyahu also struck a similar tone by directly addressing the Iranian population. "We have a common enemy, the murderous regime of the Ayatollahs that has taken over you through oppressive forces. They are the ones who have degraded your wonderful country, brought it to the lowest point, and they are the ones who slaughtered you en masse," he said.
Saturday's strikes turned into a broader military escalation after Iran responded by launching a series of attacks on Israel and Gulf states, including Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
The End Of A 36-Year Reign?
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took over from Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 and, despite early doubts about his grip on power, went on to rule for 36 years. His final years were turbulent -- proxies Hamas and Hezbollah were weakend beacuse of US, Israeli attacks, and protests over economic conditions that peaked in January and were met with a brutal crackdown. A 12-day war with Israel and the US strikes on Iran last June.
