President Donald J. Trump declared on Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a major joint U.S.-Israeli military operation targeting the Islamic Republic, describing the development as “justice” for victims of the regime and the “single greatest chance” for Iranians to reclaim their country.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump hailed the reported death of the 86-year-old cleric, who has led Iran since 1989, as a pivotal moment following predawn strikes that he said also eliminated other senior leaders.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” Trump wrote.
He continued, “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 killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.”
Trump claimed reports indicated that elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military, and security forces were seeking immunity and no longer wished to fight. “We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us,” he stated. “As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’ Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves.”
The president asserted that the strikes had already caused widespread destruction in Iran. “That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated,” he wrote.
Trump vowed that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”
He concluded, “Thank you for your attention to this matter. PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP”
The announcement follows a barrage of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets, including military sites, which Trump framed as part of an effort to dismantle the regime. Israeli sources have reportedly confirmed Khamenei’s death, with some indicating his body was recovered from rubble in Tehran.
However, Iranian state media and officials, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have denied the claims, insisting that Khamenei and other top leaders remain “safe and sound” and are actively commanding responses to the attacks. Iran’s Tasnim and Mehr news agencies reported that the supreme leader was “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.”
The conflicting accounts have fueled uncertainty amid escalating regional tensions, with Iran launching retaliatory strikes and global markets reacting to disruptions in oil flows and air travel.
Trump’s post, presented as an official White House statement complete with presidential branding, underscores his call for regime change and an appeal to Iranian forces and citizens to shift allegiance toward what he termed “Iranian Patriots.”
The White House has not issued a separate formal confirmation beyond Trump’s social media statement, and the situation remains fluid as international observers monitor for official Iranian acknowledgment or further developments.
