There are sharply conflicting claims about the fate of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, following reports of an Israeli airstrike on his compound in central Tehran.
Senior Israeli officials reportedly told journalists that Khamenei was killed during an attack they described as part of a joint offensive involving Israel and the United States.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was quoted as saying he had been shown an image of Khamenei’s body recovered from the destroyed compound.
“There are many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive,” Netanyahu said in a televised address.
An Israeli official also told Axios that intelligence assessments indicated Khamenei had been killed, adding that Israel’s ambassador to Washington had conveyed the same position to U.S. officials.
However, Iran has firmly denied the reports.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the claims, saying Khamenei was still alive.
“He is still alive, as far as I know,” Araghchi said, adding that “all high-ranking officials are alive.”
Iranian state media also announced that Khamenei would deliver a public address, although no live broadcast or footage had aired at the time of reporting.
As of now, there has been no independent verification of Khamenei’s death, and the situation remains highly uncertain, with contradictory statements from Israeli and Iranian authorities.
