#BreakingNews: Iran State TV Confirms Khamenei's Death; IRGC Vows to Launch Heaviest Offensive in History

Iran’s state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) have confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes, marking the most dramatic escalation in decades of hostility between Tehran and its adversaries. The announcement followed earlier claims by Washington and Tel Aviv that the 86-year-old cleric had been eliminated during a coordinated military offensive targeting key Iranian leadership sites.

State broadcaster IRIB reported that the Supreme Leader had “reached martyrdom", with media accounts saying he was killed inside his office at his Tehran compound in the early hours of Saturday. Officials framed his death as occurring while he remained at the forefront of his responsibilities. The first wave of strikes reportedly targeted the Pasteur neighbourhood, where the Supreme Leader’s complex and several military headquarters are located.

The IRGC issued a strongly worded statement vowing retaliation, warning it would launch the “heaviest offensive in history” against Israel to avenge Khamenei’s killing. The elite force described the attack as a criminal act by the United States and Israel and said Iran’s response would be severe and decisive. Tehran has already fired missiles toward Israel and several countries hosting American bases, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

Also Read: Khamenei's Daughter, Granddaughter Killed in Strikes: Iran's First Family Pays Devastating Price

US President Donald Trump said the operation was aimed at eliminating what he described as a long-standing threat and preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons. Trump added that US intelligence and tracking systems had closely monitored Khamenei’s movements and warned that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue as long as necessary to achieve Washington’s objectives in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed and claimed there were clear indications the Iranian leader was no longer alive. Israeli officials further reported that several senior Iranian figures were killed in the operation, including Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh, Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour, and top adviser Ali Shamkhani, according to reports citing security sources.

Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989 following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, wielded ultimate authority over the country’s political, military, and judicial systems. Analysts warn that his confirmed death could trigger a volatile power struggle within the Islamic Republic and significantly reshape the region’s security landscape, with global leaders closely monitoring Tehran’s promised retaliation.

Also Read: UK Maritime Office Reports Hormuz Closure as US-Israel Strikes Kill Iran's Top Military Chiefs