Trump claims US-Israeli attacks on Iran have killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s Supreme Leader

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and US President Donald Trump. File photos / Handout and Brendan Smialowski, AFP

Iranians took to the streets cheering with joy and playing celebratory music after reports of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death, according to video footage verified by AFP.

There was no confirmation from Iran, but United States President Donald Trump said on his Truth Social network that “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead”.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said earlier that there were “many indications” that Khamenei was dead but stopped short of making a definitive statement.

Iranians blared music, cheered, clapped and honked their car horns, according to videos on Telegram verified by AFP.

The celebrations began even before Trump’s post, in response to other reports of Khamenei’s death, according to multiple witnesses and audio recordings.

The witnesses said at the time that loud cheers echoed across parts of Tehran and residents took to their windows to applaud and play loud music.

Loud and sustained whistles, cheers were heard and fireworks could be seen being launched on videos shared on social media that were verified by AFP.

At that point, people were not yet coming out en masse into the streets to celebrate, according to social media.

Earlier today, Iranian officials had dismissed such claims of the Supreme Leader’s death.

Later, his official X account posted an image of a faceless clerical figure holding a flaming sword. Pictures on social media also showed satellite images of the leader’s compound.

Deadly crackdown

Many Iranians were fearful after the deadly crackdown on mass anti-government protests last month.

The initial wave of protests began in December, sparked by economic woes in the sanctions-hit country, but soon grew into nationwide demonstrations that crested on January 8 and 9, posing one of the largest challenges to Iran’s leaders in years.

The unrest prompted a violent government crackdown that killed thousands of people.

The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7000 deaths, while warning the full toll is likely far higher.

Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by the US and Israel.

During the protests, the Government had sought to walk a line between acknowledging protesters’ legitimate economic grievances while condemning so-called “rioters”.

Trump’s statement on Khamenei

The following is the complete text of a post from US President Donald Trump, announcing the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on his Truth Social platform:

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. 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. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country. We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!” Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves. That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"

-Agence France-Presse