Iranian officials confirmed on Saturday night that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in that day’s airstrikes on his residential compound in Tehran. A number of other top government officials were killed as well, including the Chief Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Pakpour, top security adviser to the Supreme Leader Ali Shamkhani, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Chief of the General Staff Seyed Abdolahmi Musavi. Khamenei’s daughter, son in law, and granddaughter were also killed. Israel claims that 40 officials in total were killed. Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was also killed in the strikes.
WANA reported that “thousands gathered in the early hours of the morning in front of the University of Tehran before marching toward Enghelab Square” in commemoration.
The Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, announced Sunday that, in line with the constitution, a leadership council has been formed to assume the responsibilities of the Iranian leader pending the selection of a successor, stressing that constitutional mechanisms are proceeding without disruption. “The enemy is deluded if it believes that assassinating leaders can destabilize Iran,” arguing that the Iranian people have once again demonstrated their loyalty to their leadership and steadfast commitment to their national path,” Larijani concluded.
