Tehran: US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in coordinated US-Israel airstrikes targeting key Iranian military and nuclear installations, triggering global shockwaves and intensifying fears of a wider regional war. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “strong indications” that Khamenei was “no longer,” Iranian authorities swiftly denied the reports, accusing Western powers of engaging in “mental warfare” amid one of the most volatile military escalations in decades.
US-Israel Joint Offensive Targets Strategic Assets
According to the United States Central Command, the strikes focused on locations posing an “imminent threat,” including Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command centers, missile and drone launch sites, air defense systems, and military airfields. Israeli officials stated that senior IRGC commanders and nuclear personnel were among those killed during the operation.
Netanyahu claimed that Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed and urged the Iranian people to “finish the job,” signaling a dramatic shift in Israel’s posture toward Tehran’s leadership structure.
Iran Rejects Death Claims, Warns of Psychological Campaign
Iranian state media quoted the head of public relations at the Supreme Leader’s office dismissing reports of Khamenei’s death as propaganda.
“The enemy is resorting to mental warfare. All should be aware,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Iran retaliated by launching dozens of missiles toward Israel and US military bases in the region. Israeli defence forces reported intercepting many of the projectiles, with no immediate confirmation of major casualties.
Regional and Global Reactions Intensify
Several Middle Eastern countries condemned Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on US bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union would hold an emergency security meeting to address the escalating crisis.
In a separate development, Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s late Shah, welcomed the reports and declared that the Islamic Republic was effectively finished, urging security forces to support a transitional process rather than appointing a successor.
With conflicting claims and no independent confirmation regarding Khamenei’s status, the situation remains fluid. Analysts warn that the alleged death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, if confirmed, could reshape the political and military balance across West Asia.
