Iranian state television on Sunday confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, announcing the news in an early morning broadcast that showed archive footage draped with a black banner in a sign of mourning.
A presenter said Khamenei died at 5:00 a.m. (0130 GMT). The report did not refer to widely circulated claims of a massive U.S. and Israeli attack on his residence.
Khamenei, 86, had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him one of the longest-ruling leaders in the Middle East. He succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini following the latter’s death and presided over more than three decades of political, economic and military challenges, including heightened tensions with Western powers.
Iranian media outlets later reported that Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes.
“After establishing contact with informed sources in the Supreme Leader’s household, the news of the martyrdom of the daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter of the Revolutionary Leader has unfortunately been confirmed,” the semi-official Fars News Agency said, citing informed sources.
There was no immediate confirmation from U.S. or Israeli officials regarding the reported strikes or the deaths of Khamenei’s relatives.
State television said further details on funeral arrangements and succession would be announced in due course.
