Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei reported dead by Israel; Tehran denies claims

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address Saturday that there were “many signs” Khamenei had been killed when Israeli forces struck his compound in Tehran as part of a broader offensive, according to The Associated Press.

Netanyahu accused Khamenei of decades of “terrorism” and said the operation eliminated senior Iranian figures, though he stopped short of definitively confirming Khamenei’s death.

A senior Israeli official told Reuters that intelligence assessments indicate Khamenei’s body has been found and that he and other top Iranian leaders were killed in the strikes.

However, there has been no confirmation from the United States or the Iranian government.

Iranian officials denied the reports. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive “as far as I know” and that most senior officials remained safe.

Iranian state outlets Tasnim and Mehr reported that Khamenei was “steadfast and firm in commanding the field,” contradicting claims of his death.

The strikes targeted senior leadership, military facilities and air defenses amid escalating U.S.-Israel military action against Iran.

Iran responded with missile and drone strikes against Israeli and U.S. forces, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.