The death of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been confirmed by the US, Israel and Iran following strikes.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been Supreme Leader of the country since 1989, and his death comes after a series of strikes on the country confirmed by Donald Trump.
Iranian state TV claims Khamenei was killed in his office on Saturday morning 'while he was carrying out tasks' and insisted claims he had been in hiding was the 'enemy’s psychological warfare'.
According to a translation shared by Reuters via the BBC, the news of the Supreme Leader's death was announced on state TV in Iran by the Supreme National Security Council
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A statement was read out on all of the TV stations at once, reportedly stating: "Leader and Imam of the Muslims, His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, on the path of upholding the exaltation of the sacred sanctuary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, drank the sweet, pure drought of martyrdom and joined the Supreme Heavenly Kingdom".
US President Trump said he has 'good candidates' in mind of who he believes should now lead Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also called Iran an 'existential threat' to his country.
Trump shared the news pf the Supreme Leader's death on Truth Social with a lengthy statement.
The President wrote: "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," he continued.
He then called upon the people of Iran to 'take back their country', calling it 'their single greatest chance' to do so.
"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."
Trump warned that the bombing will continue, despite the Supreme Leader's death: "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!"
In a separate post, he also shared a warning to those considering retaliatory action.
On his Truth Social platform, he wrote: "Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!"
His warning comes after Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps threatened to attack US military bases and Israel following the killing.
"The most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces will begin toward the occupied territories and American terrorist bases in just moments," they warned.
Many are now looking to exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, and whether he will return to lead.
He and his parents were sent into exile in the United States in 1979.
Pahlavi wrote on social media: "Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty Zahhak [an evil king in Iranian mythology] of our time, the killer of tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the pages of history."
"With his death, the Islamic Republic has effectively come to an end and will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history," he continued, before adding 'this marks the beginning of our great national celebration; but it is not the end of the road.'
Topics: World News, Iran, Israel, US News, Donald Trump, Politics
Jen Thomas