TEHRAN (Diya TV) — President Donald Trump announced Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, posting the claim on Truth Social as the U.S. and Israel carry out a sweeping wave of strikes across Iran.
Reuters separately reported that a senior Israeli official said Khamenei was killed in the joint U.S.–Israeli operation, though there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also stated there were “many signs” Khamenei was no longer alive following strikes that reportedly hit a compound associated with him.
Diya TV has also received independent confirmation from anonymous sources inside Iran indicating internal channels are treating Khamenei as deceased. The sources requested anonymity due to obvious security risks and the sensitivity of leadership developments in Tehran. Diya TV cannot yet publicly identify these sources.
While Trump and Israeli-linked claims are circulating internationally, Iranian-linked outlets have pushed back, with reporting suggesting Khamenei remains “commanding the field.” This sharp contradiction is fueling uncertainty and tension, especially as Tehran’s official state apparatus has not issued a definitive public statement that closes the question.
If Khamenei’s death is confirmed by Tehran, it would trigger the most consequential succession moment in Iran in decades. Khamenei has been Supreme Leader since 1989, holding ultimate authority over the Iranian state, the military-security establishment, and the country’s strategic posture across the region.
Geopolitical analysts believe a fast-moving internal consolidation by hardline security institutions, especially the IRGC, could arise with this news. They expect a volatile regional response from Iranian-aligned armed groups and a heightened risk of further escalation as strikes and retaliation continue across multiple fronts.
The broader military campaign is already being described internationally as a major, coordinated escalation, with strikes and retaliatory activity reported across the region and emergency diplomatic responses underway.
This is a developing story. Diya TV will continue to update as Tehran issues formal confirmation or as additional independent verification becomes available.
