Trump Says Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei, 40 Iranian Leaders Killed in US–Israel Strikes on Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed during coordinated airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel, along with dozens of senior Iranian military and civilian officials.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed Khamenei’s death and described the operation as a decisive blow against Iran’s leadership. He also claimed that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were seeking immunity from Washington following the strikes.

The large-scale military action earlier in the day targeted key sites across Iran. Trump had urged the Iranian public to “seize control” of their future, calling for an end to the Islamic leadership that has governed the country since 1979.

Iran responded with retaliatory attacks targeting countries hosting U.S. forces or considered American allies in the region, including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain. The United States maintains about 13 military bases across the Middle East, with tens of thousands of troops stationed in the region.

The escalation led to widespread airspace closures across the Middle East. Iran, Israel, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates all shut their airspace, while Syria partially suspended flights along its southern border with Israel. The disruptions rippled across global aviation routes.

Tehran called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, while European Union foreign ministers scheduled urgent talks to address the rapidly deteriorating security situation.

Oil markets are expected to react sharply when trading resumes, amid renewed concerns that Iran could attempt to block the Strait of Hormuz – a vital corridor for global oil exports.

Israeli officials said the initial wave of strikes significantly weakened Iran’s military leadership, reporting that multiple senior defence and intelligence figures were killed. Among those named were Ali Shamkhani, Mohammad Pakpour, Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Mohammad Shirazi and Saleh Asadi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were strong indications that Khamenei had been killed, calling the operation a strategic turning point.

Other reported casualties included senior officials connected to Iran’s nuclear research establishment. However, some high-ranking figures were said to have survived, including Ali Larijani, a prominent political leader and former parliament speaker.

Reports from Iran indicated that more than 250 people were killed nationwide in the strikes, including civilians. An Iranian official stated that dozens of victims died when a strike hit a girls’ school.

Trump said military operations would continue “as long as necessary,” framing the campaign as aimed at securing long-term stability in the Middle East. Iranian authorities, meanwhile, vowed further retaliation, raising fears of a prolonged and wider regional conflict.