“The largest military operations in the history of the Iranian Armed Forces will soon begin against Israel and US bases in the region,” said a press statement from the Islamic Republic’s elite armed forces. The government announced 40 days of public mourning and seven public holidays.
A government statement said: “This great crime will not go unanswered and will open a new chapter in the history of the Islamic world and Shiism.” Khamenei‘s blood will “gush forth like a torrential spring and eradicate American-Zionist injustice and crimes,” the statement continued.
High-ranking military officials are also dead
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According to consistent media reports, several of Khamenei’s relatives were also killed. The Al-Arabiya website, citing the Iranian Fars news agency, reported that Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and grandson were killed. There was no confirmation of this from Iran.
At the same time, Israel reported the deaths of a total of seven high-ranking military officers. For example, the leader of the Revolutionary Guard, Mohammed Pakpur, was killed. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Khamenei, and Defense Minister Asis Nasirsadeh were also killed in the attacks, army spokesman Effie Defrin said on Saturday evening. There was no comment from Iran on this either.
Trump: “Greatest opportunity for Iranian people”
US President Donald Trump had already announced Khamenei’s death in front of Iranian state media. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” the Republican wrote on his Truth Social platform. This is the “biggest opportunity for the Iranian people to take back their country.”
Khamenei was unable to evade the highly specialized secret services, the US President continued. Trump referred to close cooperation with Israel. “There was nothing he or the others could do with the slain leader.”
After the first reports of Khamenei’s death, spontaneous cheers broke out in Tehran. Residents of the Iranian capital reported people screaming for joy from their windows. The news was spread by Iranian exile media, among others, which can be received via satellite in Iran. Honking horns could be heard in the streets.
Shah’s son Pahlawi gets involved
When asked if there was anyone in Iran he would like to see leading the country, Trump told CBS News: “Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates.” And when asked who he thought was in charge in Iran after Khamenei’s death, he said: “I know exactly who, but I can’t tell you.”
The son of the Shah of Persia, who was overthrown in 1979, Reza Pahlawi, once again put himself into play as Iran’s interim leader. “Many Iranians have asked me to lead this transition, often despite life-threatening situations,” he wrote in the Washington Post. He wanted to follow their call and clear the way to a new constitution. This should be followed by free elections.
Bombings should continue
The reports of the death of Khamenei and others followed widespread attacks by Israel and the USA on various parts of Iran since Saturday morning. Israel spoke of the “largest” deployment for the armed forces in its history – around 200 fighter jets were used to attack “hundreds of targets”. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the US attacks “the deadliest, most complex and most precise air mission in history”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the attacks on Iran by saying that he wanted to protect his country from an existential threat from Tehran. “The murderous terrorist regime must not be allowed to equip itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity,” said Netanyahu.
The Israeli Air Force continued its waves of attacks in Iran overnight. The army announced that the aim was to launch positions for ballistic missiles and the arch-enemy’s air defense systems. Trump announced that “Operation Epic Fury” would continue until peace returned to the region and the world.
Dead and injured
In the Iranian media, citing the Red Crescent, there was talk of 201 dead and 747 injured in Iran. Iran also reported that at least 85 schoolgirls were killed in an attack. An elementary school for girls in Hormuzgan province was hit, the state news agency IRNA reported. More than 90 students were also injured. The information cannot be independently verified.
Iranian shelling of targets in several countries
Iran responded to the fire with rocket attacks on Israel and at least seven other countries, including those with US military bases. Among the targets were the al-Udeid military base in Qatar, the al-Salem base in Kuwait, the al-Dhafra base in the United Arab Emirates and the US fleet in Bahrain, Iran’s Fars news agency reported.
“The locations from which the Zionist and U.S. operations took place, as well as the locations of all actions against Iran’s defensive operations, are considered legitimate targets” of the Iranian armed forces, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Arakchi said on Iranian state television.
IAEA convenes special meeting
At Russia’s request, there will be a special meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Monday, the organization announced. Iran had previously called for a special session, citing a “threat” to the country’s nuclear facilities.
On Thursday, the USA and Iran negotiated indirectly over the Islamic Republic’s controversial nuclear program. US President Trump had given Tehran an ultimatum until the beginning of March to reach an agreement – and threatened military action if no agreement was reached.
