Israeli Sources Say Iran’s Supreme Leader is Dead

Conflicting reports are circulating over the fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader following recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes, with Israeli officials suggesting he may be dead, while Iranian authorities deny the claims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “growing signs” that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was “gone,” though he stopped short of confirming his death.

According to Reuters, a senior Israeli official said Khamenei’s body had been found following strikes on targets in Tehran.

Iran has rejected the reports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told ABC News earlier that both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were “safe and sound.” The head of public relations at Khamenei’s office said reports of his death were part of “psychological warfare,” according to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency.

Despite the uncertainty, BBC Persian reported scenes of celebration in parts of Tehran, with residents cheering, honking car horns and shouting in the streets, citing sources on the ground.

The conflicting accounts come amid heightened tensions following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets. No independent confirmation has yet emerged regarding Khamenei’s condition, and the situation remains fluid.