The death of the Supreme Leader of Iran has been confirmed by state television and media. Ayatollah Khamenei passed away amid a military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran.
The state agency IRNA reported that "he fell a martyr" as a result of the strike.
In connection with this, a 40-day mourning period has been declared in Iran, and the upcoming week will be a non-working week.
Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in an airstrike, although Iranian authorities denied this information.
According to Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, the temporary responsibilities of the Supreme Leader will be taken on by the president, the head of the judiciary, and one of the members of the Guardian Council.
"The president, the head of the judiciary, and one of the members of the Guardian Council of Iran will temporarily perform the duties of the Supreme Leader," Mokhber stated.
On Saturday, the U.S. and Israel carried out a series of strikes on Iranian facilities, including Tehran, resulting in destruction and casualties among the civilian population. In response, Iran launched missile strikes on Israeli and American military targets in the region.
According to the Fars News Agency, linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the attacks resulted in the deaths of Ayatollah Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, as well as one of his daughters-in-law.
Ali Khamenei was born in 1939 in Mashhad to a family of a religious figure and joined Ayatollah Khomeini's movement against Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in 1962.
After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, he became Deputy Minister of Defense and actively participated in the establishment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
After Khomeini's death in 1989, the Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, despite the fact that he did not meet the constitutional requirements for the title of Marja' al-taqlid (source of emulation) or Grand Ayatollah.
The constitution was amended to add a clause requiring the demonstration of "Islamic erudition," which allowed him to become an Ayatollah and assume the position of Supreme Leader.
Khamenei maintained strict control over domestic politics and the armed forces, suppressing any violent attempts to challenge his authority.
He also took a hardline stance on international issues, including conflicts with the U.S. and dissatisfaction with relations with the West, especially the United States, calling for the destruction of Israel and questioning the Holocaust.
During his rule, he has had six children, and seven presidents have changed in Iran.
