Tehran — More than 40 senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were killed in a precise strike carried out in Tehran early Saturday morning, according to media reports.
China’s state broadcaster China Global Television Network (CGTN) reported on Sunday that the high-level attack resulted in the deaths of multiple top-ranking figures within Iran’s political and military establishment.
Iranian state television confirmed Khamenei’s death and announced 40 days of national mourning. The development is being described as one of the most significant leadership changes in the history of the Islamic Republic.
According to Iranian media outlets, those killed in the attack include Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Defense Council and senior adviser to the Supreme Leader; IRGC Commander Major General Mohammad Pakpour; Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh; and Iran’s intelligence chief. Iranian authorities have accused U.S. and Israeli forces of carrying out the strike.
U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier claimed that Khamenei was killed in a targeted operation conducted on the morning of February 28. American outlet Axios, along with other international media organizations, also reported the deaths of Shamkhani and other senior officials.
Iran now faces an abrupt power vacuum, raising concerns over internal stability and regional security. Tensions across the Middle East have sharply intensified, with several countries closing their airspace and placing military forces on high alert amid fears of further escalation.
