Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, state media says

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will hold a call with G7 leaders about Iran on Sunday, the BBC’s news partner CBS has confirmed.

It is one of a number of calls the Trump administration is expected to have with global leaders and US lawmakers in the coming days.

US President Donald Trump has just warned Iran not to strike back at the US and Israel.

Writing on his Truth Social platform, he said, “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 statement comes after the the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would attack US bases and Israel in retaliation for Khamenei’s death.

“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,” it said a few hours ago.

Reading a statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, state TV outlets in Iran confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei’s death at the same time.

Below is the moment that Khamenei’s death was announced, with the statement, in part, that: “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”, according to a Reuters translation.

Watch the moment the death was announced:

Some Iranians are celebrating news Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in strikes by the US and Israel.

BBC Persian verified videos of people celebrating in several cities last night.

This morning, most of what is happening on streets appears to be pro-government events to mourn the supreme leader’s death, BBC Persian reports – although it’s still early morning in Iran and that might change later in the day.

Footage on the streets of Isfahan in central Iran show people cheering and honking their car horns in jubilation.

Another video showed people gathering around a bonfire as fireworks lit the night sky. Several families of the killed protesters also celebrated in the streets and at homes.

A report by Reuters news agency says there have also been celebrations in Karaj, a city near Tehran.

In Tehran, images from news agencies show people on the streets mourning, some holding photos of Khamenei.

Image source,Getty Images

Image source,Getty Images

Iran’s army has warned of the “most devastating” retaliation after strikes by the US and Israel killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Much has happened in recent hours – if you are just joining us, here’s what you need to know.

• Khamenei was killed in his office, Iranian state TV says. The country has declared 40 days of mourning for the hardline cleric who was in charge for the country for 37 years
• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of a “devastating offensive” in response, saying it would attack US bases and Israel.
• According to the constitution, Khamenei’s successor must be selected by the same body that chose him: the Assembly of Leadership Experts. In the meantime, the president, the head of judiciary and a cleric member of the powerful Guardian Council would usually assume his responsibilities.
• Some Iranians celebrated while others mourned following the strikes and confirmation of Khamenei’s death. Here are photos from the ground
• The killing of the supreme leader is a defining moment in the turbulent history of Iran, our chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet writes
• President Donald Trump earlier said Khamenei was “one of the most evil people in history” and that his death marked “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country”
• More than 200 people have been killed during the strikes, according to the Red Crescent, and the BBC’s media partner, CBS News, has reported around 40 Iranian officials are dead.
• Iran has launched attacks throughout the Middle East, on US allies and where the US has military bases, including in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait
• Four people have been injured following an incident at Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs, the country’s government says
• The UK is taking part in “co-ordinated regional defensive operations” to protect British people and regional partners, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said

Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah (king), external, issued a statement earlier welcoming the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In an essay, external for the Washington Post published this evening, Pahlavi expands on his thoughts, first thanking US President Donald Trump for his declaration to the Iranian people that “the hour of your freedom is at hand”.

He writes that for almost half a century, the Islamic Republic has been “subverting neighbors’ sovereignty, fueling conflicts around the world, and pursuing nuclear weapons and the long-range missiles to deliver them”.

He says the Islamic Republic’s most “heinous crimes” were committed at home, including thousands of protesters who were killed during a crackdown on demonstrators in January.

Pahlavi says that the country’s path forward should involve a new constitution drafted and ratified by referendum, followed by free elections with “international oversight”.

“History rarely announces its turning points in advance. But moments do come when courage, leadership and solidarity can change the course of nations,” he writes.

For almost 24 hours now, the US and Israel have been attacking Iran, striking across the country.

Tehran has been the mostly heavily hit, but other targets include military sites and intelligence headquarters. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes at Israel and many Gulf nations which host US bases in the region.

You can see how the attack has unfolded, laid out in maps, in this article.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

The commander-in-chief of Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Mohammad Pakpour, and the secretary of Iran’s Defence Council, Ali Shamkhani, have been killed in US and Israel strikes on Iran, official IRNA news agency announced.

Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces had announced the names of seven members of Iran’s security leadership, including both Pakpour and Shamkhani, which they claimed had died.

Mohammad Pakpour was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the IRGC after his predecessor was killed during the 12-day Iran-Israel war back in June 2025. He was previously the commander of the IRGC’s Ground Forces.

Shamkhani, who was also a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, was injured during the 12-day war.

Both Pakpour and Shamkhani had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department.

Four people have been injured following an incident at Dubai International Airport, the country’s government says.

Emergency response teams “have been activated immediately”, and the incident is being handled in coordination with the relevant authorities”, adding that medical care was provided to those injured.

Debris from a drone intercepted by Dubai’s military caused a fire at one of the berths of Jebel Ali Port, a known frequent stop for US Navy ships in the Gulf, the government said. “Dubai Civil Defense teams immediately responded to handle the fire.” No injuries were reported.

In a separate incident at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, debris from an intercepted drone killed one person, an Asian national, and injured seven others, the government said.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Many people in Iran are still sleeping or just waking up, but I have asked one person in Tehran about how they feel about Khamenei’s death.

“I can’t believe it. It’s like when they give you such a good news that you don’t even don’t know what to do,” they tell me.

“I couldn’t sleep all night, I’m just waiting to start the first day without Khamenei in it. I think the Middle East has become a better place.

“Even [the] world has become a better place now.”

Here is a selection of photos from inside Iran as we’re fast approaching 24 hours since Israel and the US started hitting multiple targets in the country.

Image source,Reuters

Image source,Reuters

Image source,AFP via Getty Image

Image source,Getty Images

Image source,Mamlekate/X

Image source,IRINN

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

This is a defining moment in the turbulent history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

But its most powerful clerics and commanders have been preparing for it.

Minds were concentrated during the 12-day war last June. On the first night alone, in the first wave of attacks, Israel was able to assassinate nine nuclear scientists, and a number of security chiefs. And in the days that followed, more senior scientists and at least 30 leading commanders were killed.

It was made clear that the Ayatollah could also be in their sights.

It was reported then that Khamenei, who spent the war in his special bunker, was drawing up lists of security officials who could immediately step into place to avoid any vacuum in the top echelons.

As Khamenei’s time at the helm is brought to a sudden end, questions will turn to his successor and whether a change at the top could also signal a shift in direction for the 47-year-old Islamic republic.

Iran has announced its president, the head of the judiciary, and one of the jurists of the Guardian Council – a powerful body – will oversee the transition period following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As our reporter explained earlier, the Assembly of Leadership Experts – a body of clerics – will now turn to appointing Khamenei’s successor, something the constitution says must occur as soon as possible. But quickly assembling everyone while Iran is under attack by the United States and Israel may prove difficult for safety reasons.

Khamenei himself was appointed the very same day Ruhollah Ayatollah Khomeini died.

At least 133 Iranian civilians have been killed and 200 injured in the US-Israeli attacks on the country, which began on Saturday, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency – a Washington-based Iranian rights group.

The findings were based on a preliminary report, which said at least 58 attacks were recorded across 18 provinces, with Tehran recording the highest number of incidents.

The group also noted military casualties, damage to infrastructure and educational centres, and severe internet disruptions.

Image source,Supplied

The sun is rising over Tehran now, where explosions have continued to be heard over the last few hours.

The Iranian capital bore the brunt of dozens of deadly US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, and Trump has warned the bombing will continue despite the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

About an hour ago, US Central Command posted a clip on X, external showing US missiles launching and exploding into their targets, saying: “CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive action as directed”.

The Israeli Defence Forces a short while ago also said it has launched another wave of strikes from dozens of fighter jets, aimed at Iranian missile supplies and defence systems.

“The Israeli Air Force has struck more than 30 targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime across Iran, including aerial defense systems, missile launchers, regime targets, and military command centers,” the IDF said in its latest update.

Iran’s state media has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed, after attacks across Iran by Israel and the US, which began on Saturday morning (local time).

Here is what you need to know.

• A statement from Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, read out by several state broadcast channels, confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in his office early on Saturday morning.
• One presenter, through tears, said the country will enter 40 days of mourning. The Assembly of Leadership Experts – a council of clerics – is expected to appoint a successor as soon as possible.
• More than 200 people have been killed during the strikes, according to the Red Crescent, and the BBC’s media partner, CBS News, has reported around 40 Iranian officials are dead.
• In response, Iran has launched attacks throughout the Middle East, on US allies and where the US has military bases, including in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
• The UK is taking part in “co-ordinated regional defensive operations” to protect British people and regional partners, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
• President Donald Trump earlier said Khamenei was “one of the most evil people in history” and that his death marked “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country”.
• He said the US would continue bombing Iran – with explosions still ringing out across its capital Tehran.
• The US cannot declare war without congressional approval – and this operation has divided lawmakers, largely along party lines. The United Nations has also said the military operation undermines peace in the region.

We’ve just got a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warning they will attack US bases and Israel.

“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,” it says.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

More details from that statement read out by presenters on state TV channels earlier.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said Ayatollah Khamenei was killed early Saturday morning at his office “while he was carrying out tasks”.

Using satellite imagery, BBC Verify earlier confirmed significant damage to parts of the Leadership House compound, which is Khamenei’s office in Tehran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency has said that Khamenei’s death at his office is proof that reports that he was hiding out were the “enemy’s psychological warfare”.