Iranian state TV confirms Khamenei's death in US-Israel strike; 40 days mourning declared

Tehran/Tel Aviv: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in the US-Israel attack, Iranian state television confirmed on Sunday, ending his 36-year iron-fisted rule since 1989.

Iranian state TV announced Khamenei "attained martyrdom," declaring 40 days of mourning, a seven-day closure of offices, and national grief. The 86-year-old cleric's daughter, son-in-law, and grandson were also killed in the strike, sources indicated.

The US and Israel had claimed the killing earlier, with President Donald Trump posting on 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." Khamenei's name was absent from Israel's initial military casualty list.

The confirmation follows Tehran's barrage of drones and missiles against Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, and Kuwait. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres reported strikes on 20 Iranian cities, including Tehran and Isfahan, with at least 85 deaths, among them 57 students at a Minab girls' school.

Trump urged Iranians to seize power, claiming IRGC and security forces seek immunity. Exiled Reza Pahlavi called for rebuilding Iran, though without clear backing.

India's S. Jaishankar urged de-escalation in talks with Iranian and Israeli foreign ministers. Britain's Keir Starmer noted active UK forces in defensive operations. France, China, Russia, and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation.

Iran's future remains uncertain amid leadership vacuum and recent protest crackdowns.