Iran on Sunday officially confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei following large-scale airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel. Authorities described the assault as the most extensive attack on Iranian territory in decades and declared 40 days of national mourning.

State media reported that Khamenei died after coordinated strikes targeted senior political leaders and key military installations across the country. A senior Israeli official earlier told Reuters that his body was recovered from the rubble of his compound. US President Donald Trump said Washington worked closely with Israel in the operation, stating that Khamenei — who had ruled since 1989 — was a central strategic target.

Inside Iran, reactions were sharply divided. Witnesses described scenes of celebration in parts of Tehran, Karaj and Isfahan, while residents in Tabriz reported fear and panic following overnight bombardments.

Khamenei’s death presents an unprecedented challenge to Iran’s political system. Under the country’s constitution, the supreme leader must be a senior Shi’ite cleric chosen under the doctrine ofvilayat-e faqih. While a formal succession mechanism exists, analysts question how effectively it can function during active military conflict.

Potential successors previously cited include Mojtaba Khamenei and Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini. However, observers note that no current figure possesses the same religious authority or institutional control as Khamenei, raising uncertainty over the stability of powerful institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

As Iran navigates its first wartime leadership transition, the country faces deep political uncertainty amid escalating regional conflict.