President Trump Says US and Israel Killed Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei; Tehran Denies

President Donald Trump announced that U.S. and Israeli forces had killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint aerial campaign.

“Iran’s supreme leader has been killed during major attack by US and Israel, Trump says Iran’s supreme leader has been killed during major attack by US and Israel, Trump says DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A major attack launched by Israel and the United States killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, President Donald Trump said Saturday, announcing an assassination that he said gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country but that also put the future of the Islamic Republic in doubt and raised the risk of regional instability”

AP News

He framed the operation as "major combat operations" and said it was part of a sustained effort to disable Iran’s nuclear program and secure "peace in the Middle East."

AP News

Trump posted the claim on social media and said the strikes were carried out with U.S. intelligence and coordination with Israel.

He promised continued bombing "for as long as necessary."

Claims about Khamenei's fate immediately split along competing official statements.

U.S. and some Israeli officials publicly asserted he had been killed, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying "all indications" showed the supreme leader was "no longer with us."

BBC

Iranian authorities - including the foreign ministry, state media and Khamenei's own office - denied the reports and said he and Iran's president were "safe and sound."

Independent verification was not produced by Israel in the immediate aftermath, and multiple outlets noted that the claims could not be independently confirmed.

Israel said it carried out what it termed its largest-ever aerial operation, using roughly 200 jets to strike more than 500 targets.

“What we know so far: Supreme Leader Khamenei killed, Trump says, as Iran launches retaliatory strikes President Donald Trump has said Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is dead, hours after the US and Israel launched a large-scale attack on the country”

BBC

U.S. and Israeli accounts said they hit IRGC command-and-control sites, air defenses, missile and drone launch sites, and airfields.

Iranian agencies and regional media reported heavy destruction and civilian casualties across many provinces.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society gave a toll of 201 dead and 747 injured.

Satellite imagery showed smoke and damage at Khamenei’s Tehran compound.

Additional reports cited strikes on schools and civilian areas with high casualty claims.

Trump labeled Khamenei 'one of the most evil people in history,' urged Iranians to rise up, and threatened 'heavy and pinpoint' or 'uninterrupted' bombing until U.S. objectives were achieved.

He also suggested offers of immunity to some Iranian security personnel who defect.

CNN

Israeli leaders backed the operation publicly as a blow to Iran's leadership.

U.S. lawmakers and other international figures voiced mixed reactions and concern about the lack of clear evidence and defined end-states.

Multiple outlets and analysts warned the situation remained highly fluid and dangerous.

“Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader who ruled the country for almost four decades, has been killed, according to US President Donald Trump and two Israeli sources”

CNN

News organizations emphasized the inability to independently verify Khamenei’s death, noted the unclear succession in Iran, and warned that a leadership vacuum could strengthen hard-line elements like the IRGC or further destabilize the region.

dw

Iran reportedly launched counterstrikes against U.S. bases and fired missiles into neighboring states.

Protests and geopolitical alarms followed in many countries, underscoring the high risk of wider escalation.

Journalists urged caution and cross-verification given the extraordinary nature of the claim.