Iran’s state television declared a 40-day national mourning period and seven public holidays after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led the country since 1989.
“With the martyrdom of the supreme leader, his path and mission will neither be lost nor forgotten; rather, they will be carried forward with even greater strength and determination,” a news presenter said during the broadcast.
Earlier, the channel confirmed Khamenei’s death but did not mention reports of a large-scale US and Israeli strike on his residence.
The announcement was made at 5:00 a.m. (0130 GMT), accompanied by archival footage and a black banner displayed on screen as a symbol of mourning. Khamenei was 86 years old.
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump said that Khamenei had been killed in airstrikes, though officials in Tehran have not publicly confirmed those claims.
