Tehran, Mar 1 (V7N) — Iran has confirmed the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following joint attacks by the United States and Israel. The announcement was made on Sunday morning by Iran’s state media, according to reports by BBC News and CNN.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported Sunday that “Iran’s Supreme Leader has embraced martyrdom.”

The Fars News Agency further stated that the Iranian government has declared 40 days of official mourning following Khamenei’s death and announced a seven-day government holiday.

The Tehran-based news agency IRNA reported that Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred in attacks carried out by Israeli and U.S. forces.

Prior to the state confirmation, U.S. President Donald Trump had announced Khamenei’s death on his social media platform, Truth Social, writing: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.”

According to Reuters, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on Saturday morning at his office in Tehran.

BBC News reported that following the Supreme Leader’s death, Iran has officially declared 40 days of mourning beginning Sunday, March 1.

Earlier reports also indicated the deaths of several of Khamenei’s relatives. Around 6:30 a.m. Bangladesh time on Sunday, the Jordan-based outlet Roya News, citing Fars News Agency, reported that multiple members of the Supreme Leader’s family were killed in the joint U.S.-Israeli attacks.

Roya News stated that sources close to Khamenei confirmed the deaths of several family members. Fars News, citing the same sources, reported that his daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and daughter-in-law were among those killed. At the time, Iranian officials had not issued any formal statement regarding these deaths.

END/WD/RH/