The United States believes that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top Iranian officials may have been killed in an Israeli strike targeting a leadership compound, according to a US official cited by Fox News.
The official reportedly said US assessments suggest that Khamenei and between five and ten senior Iranian leaders were killed in the initial Israeli attack on the compound.
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No confirmation from Tehran
The reported strike was part of the ongoing US–Israel military campaign against Iranian targets, which has included missile and air attacks on strategic sites across the country. The compound was believed to house key figures within Iran’s political and military leadership.
However, there has been no independent confirmation by Iranian authorities of Khamenei’s death, and they have not issued any statement acknowledging casualties among the country’s top leadership.
Conflicting reports have emerged in recent days, with Iranian officials previously indicating that Khamenei had been moved to a secure location.
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Iran dismisses claims of Supreme Leader Khamenei’s death
The head of public relations at Iran’s Supreme Leader’s office has dismissed Israeli claims that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, describing them as part of an ongoing “mental warfare” campaign against Iran. Speaking on Saturday, the official accused Iran’s adversaries of spreading misinformation to create confusion and undermine public morale during the current conflict.
According to Iranian state media, the statement rejected reports circulated by Israeli sources suggesting that Khamenei had died in recent strikes. Iranian authorities have not confirmed any harm to the Supreme Leader, insisting that such claims are psychological tactics aimed at destabilising the country amid escalating military tensions with Israel and the United States.
