Iranian state TV confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was

k!lled in joint US-Israeli strikes, announcing a 40-day national mourning period.

The confirmation followed earlier reports by Tasnim and Mehr that Khamenei had remained “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.”

Later, US President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social that the 86-year-old leader was k!lled in strikes that began Saturday.

“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and,

working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been k!lled along with him, could do,” Trump wrote.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier pointed to “growing signs” of Khamenei’s death.

Although Iran had contingency plans in case of his assassination, his death adds uncertainty to a conflict already raising fears of wider escalation.