Dare Babalola
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed dead by Iranian state media, following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
The confirmation comes after US President Donald Trump announced Khamenei’s death, describing him as “one of the most evil people in History”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there were “many signs” indicating Khamenei’s death, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier denied the reports, saying Khamenei is alive “as far as I know”
Confirming the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denounced Khamenei’s killing “as a great crime” and promised to respond, according to a statement from his office.
“This great crime will never remain unanswered and will turn a new page in the history of the Islamic world and Shiism. The pure blood of this high-ranking leader will flow like a roaring spring and will eradicate American-Zionist oppression and crime.
“This time too, with all our strength and determination, with the support of the Islamic nation and the free people of the world, we will make the perpetrators and commanders of this great crime regret it,” it said.
Pezeshkian also declared seven days of public holidays in addition to the 40 days of mourning.
