Khamenei news Highlights: Is Iran's supreme leader alive after US-Israel attack on Tehran? Will joint strikes end?

For countless Iranians, life has been shaped entirely by the rule of Ali Khamenei. As news of his reported death began to surface, celebrations were said to break out on the streets of Tehran, while officials first dismissed the reports before later adopting a stance of public mourning, reported Bloomberg.

News of the Iranian supreme leader’s death surfaced gradually over several hours before being confirmed by Donald Trump in a post on social media. The development represents the most significant moment in the country’s turbulent history since the Islamic Revolution toppled the Shah and brought clerical rule to power.

At the same time, competing narratives unfolded both within Iran and abroad, a contrast made especially visible in the social media era, where controlling or shutting down internet access has become increasingly difficult.

Iran’s cabinet cautioned that this “great crime will never go unanswered", according to AP.

Khamenei was killed while “performing his assigned duties” at his office in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to Iran's Fars news agency.

The Fars agency reported that the government has declared 40 days of nationwide mourning following Khamenei’s killing.

It also said that seven days of public holidays have been announced.

Celebrating Iranian Americans gathered in cities from Boston to Los Angeles on Saturday to mark the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and express optimism about a new chapter for their country, as per AFP.

In Los Angeles, which is home to one of the largest Iranian diaspora communities, demonstrators sang and chanted as they waved flags from the shah era and held up posters featuring US President Donald Trump. Some participants also wore T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “Free Iran.”

Born in 1939 in the northeastern city of Mashhad to a family of clerics, Ali Khamenei became involved in Ayatollah Khomeini’s religious opposition to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1962.

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei was appointed deputy defence minister and played a role in organising the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

After Khomeini’s death in June 1989, the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body — selected Khamenei as supreme leader, despite the fact that he had not attained the constitutional rank of marja-e taqlid (source of emulation), or grand ayatollah, required for the position.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, Iranian state media reports, according to AP.

Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and grandchild have been killed in the attacks, according to a report by Fars News Agency, which cited “informed sources” within the Supreme Leader’s office, as per BBC.

Fars also said that one of Khamenei’s daughters-in-law was believed to have been killed in the strikes.

Earlier reports had circulated alleging the deaths of Khamenei’s daughter-in-law and son-in-law, but those claims were subsequently denied.

Iran state television stated that 201 people had been killed and 747 injured in the strikes, citing the Red Crescent. Some 85 people were killed by a missile that hit a primary girls’ school in Hormozgan province, the semi-official Iranian Students’ News Agency reported, according to Bloomberg.

In a post on X, Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi wrote, “My fellow compatriots, Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty despot of our time, the murderer of tens of thousands of Iran's bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the face of history. With his death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history. Any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to fail from the outset.”

He added, "Whoever they place in his stead will have neither legitimacy nor longevity, and will undoubtedly be complicit in the crimes of this regime as well. To the military, law enforcement, and security forces: any effort to preserve a collapsing regime will fail. This is your final opportunity to join the nation, to help ensure Iran's stable transition to a free and prosperous future, and to take part in building that future."

Pahlavi said the death of Khamenei could bring comfort to the kin of those who were killed in Iran's Lion and Sun National Revolution, calling the people to remain vigilant and united.

Reports coming in from Iran indicate that celebrations have broken out in various parts of the country after US claiming that Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei had been killed in the strikes.

As per ANI, Iranian activist and Journalist, Masih Alinejad posted one such video with the message, "A video of Iranian people celebrating inside Iran, Am I dreaming? Hello, new world."

“Every morning I wake up reading that my people are being killed by Ali Khamenei. But this is the first morning in my life that I get the good news and I want to run. I want to just run and shout, and shout out of joy," Alinejad further said.

The apparent death of the Islamic Republic’s second supreme leader, who had not named a successor, could plunge the country’s future into uncertainty and intensify mounting fears of a broader conflict, according to AP. In response to the escalating situation, the UN Security Council convened an emergency session.

US President Donald Trump said on social media that Khamenei was dead, calling it “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” His death will not bring an end to the joint airstrikes, Trump mentioned.

Prior to strikes, Trump was advised that attacking Iran would be 'high-risk but HIGH-REWARD' — US official told Reuters news agency.

According to an Al Jazeera report, China has called for a ceasefire. The country's foreign ministry has expressed deep concerns , adding that Tehran's national sovereignty, ⁠security, and territorial integrity ⁠must be respected

Amid renewed tensions in the Middle East after the US and Israel targeted Iran, the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will be addressing the country, Reuters reported.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) spokesperson Allison Hart said that the organisation is “closely following” developments in the Middle East and Iran.

According to a Reuters report, explosions were heard in Iran's Shiraz after air attacks.

The Israeli military said it struck several locations in Tehran early Saturday, claiming senior figures from Iran’s political and security leadership were present at the time. In a statement shared on X, the military said the operation was conducted simultaneously at multiple sites across the capital but did not disclose the outcome of the strikes.

Iran's Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammed Pakpour were killed in Israeli strikes, news agency Reuters reported, citing three sources.

According to an Al Jazeera report, a statement from Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry confirmed that Tehran targeted Riyadh and the kingdom's eastern region. It said, “These attacks cannot be justified under any pretext or in any way, and they came despite the Iranian authorities knowing that the Kingdom had confirmed that it would not allow its airspace and territory to be used to target Iran.”

In a joint statement released by French President ⁠Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and ⁠British Prime Minister ⁠Keir Starmer, the leaders said, "We reiterate our commitment to regional stability and to the protection of civilian ⁠life," and added they want a resumption of negotiations.

India has reacted to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, news agency PTI reported. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that New Delhi is “deeply concerned” at recent developments in Iran and theGulf region.

Amid renewed military confrontation in the Middle East, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' commander Jabari said that the country has only fired its “scrap missiles” so far, adding that they will soon unveil “unforeseen weapons.”

According to a Reuters report, amid the escalating attacks in the Middle East, some top oil and trading companies have decided to suspend shipments via the Strait of Hormuz. Approximately 20 million barrels of crude oil and other fuel types are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, which passes between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.

Kuwait's Defence Ministry said that the country's Ali al-Salem Air Base came under attack by several ballistic missiles, all of which were intercepted by the air defence systems.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi reacted to the ongoing tensions in the Middle East region. In a post on X, he wrote, “I am dismayed. Active and serious negotiations have yet again been undermined. Neither the interests of the United States nor the cause of global peace are well served by this. And I pray for the innocents who will suffer. I urge the United States not to get sucked in further. This is not your war.”

The death toll in Iran following US-Israel's strike on a girls' school has now risen to 51. Earlier, the toll stood at 40, as per a report by AFP

– The first wave of strikes in what the Pentagon named "OPERATION EPIC FURY" mainly targeted Iranian officials, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

– An Israeli official said Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were both targeted but the result of the strikes was not clear.

– Another source had earlier told the news agency that Khamenei was not in Tehran and had been transferred to a secure location.

The Israeli military said it targeted multiple sites where senior Iranian officials had gathered in the capital Tehran on Saturday morning, as it launched the strikes. "The attack this morning was carried out simultaneously at several sites in Tehran, where senior officials in Iran's political-security echelon had gathered," the military said in a statement posted on X, without confirming the results.

Indian aviation major Air India said that its Delhi-Tel Aviv flight has been diverted to Mumbai amid closure of the Israeli airspace, PTI reported. Several other flights to Middle East were also impacted. Read here

Amid the US‑Israel military action against Iran, the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi on Saturday issued an “Important Advisory” urging Indian nationals in the United Arab Emirates to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel, and follow safety instructions amid the heightened regional tensions. Read here

At least 40 people were killed following a strike on an Iranian girls' school – located in the Southern part of the Islamic Republic, mentioned a report by AFP, citing a provincial official

An Iraqi pro-Iran group has threatened imminent attacks on US bases, reported AFP

At least 24 people were killed after a strike on an Iranian school, provincial official said in new death toll, as per media reports.

Iran military issued an alert, advising its citizens residing in the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Jordan who have not yet managed to leave these countries, to depart the territory of these 5 countries as soon as possible.

US attacks Iran LIVE: Amid the escalating tensions between US and Iran, a loud bang was heard in Dubai. Explosions were also reported Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait, Jordan, other areas — where US has military bases.

Israel's public broadcaster confirmed that the joint Israeli-US strikes on Iran on Saturday targeted the Islamic republic's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and President Masoud Pezeshkian. "Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were among the targets of the attack," Kan reported on its X account, citing an Israeli source.

Abu Dhabi residents reportedly said they heard new explosions on Saturday after the UAE said earlier it had been targeted by Iranian missiles, as Tehran launched strikes in the Gulf in retaliation for US and Israeli attacks. Two residents told AFP they heard new explosions after a previous round earlier in the day.

Amid the ongoing clash between US and Iran, explosions were heard near US consulate in Iraq's Erbil, reported AFP

President Donald Trump is expected to give an address on Saturday morning as the US carries out strikes in Iran, Axios reported, citing a US official.

The US Department of Defense announced the launch of Operation Epic Fury targeting Iranian military sites, but has not provided details on the same. Hours after the US launched a "major combat' operation against Iranian military installations, US defense officials announced the name of the operation in a social media post that included an American flag emoji. Read here

Amid the clashes, a loud bang was also heard in Dubai, mentioned a report by Reuters.

The US State Department issued an advisory for US citizens in Iran, stating that they should shelter in place “until further notice” due to ongoing military operations

Donald Trump announced that the US has started "major combat operations" in Iran accusing the Iranian regime of waging an "unending campaign of bloodshed and mass murder targeting the United States". The POTUS made these comments in a video posted on Truth Social

Explosions have been reported in Bahrain capital – which is home to US Navy 5th Fleet. It came after the Bahraini interior ministry said in a series of alerts on X that emergency sirens had been sounded. It also urged residents to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place.