Netanyahu Claims ‘Many Signs’ Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Is Dead

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday claimed there were “many signs” suggesting that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei may have been killed during coordinated US-Israeli strikes targeting multiple locations in Tehran.

Speaking hours after joint military operations struck sites across the Iranian capital and other regions, Netanyahu said that a powerful surprise strike had destroyed what he described as the compound of Khamenei in the heart of Tehran. He asserted that there were growing indications the 86-year-old cleric was “no longer alive.” The Israeli Prime Minister also stated that operations against Iran would continue “as long as necessary.”

Earlier, Israel’s Channel 12, citing unnamed sources, reported increasing signs that Khamenei had been killed. A satellite image published by The New York Times reportedly showed visible damage to the compound in Tehran, which also serves as his official residence. Channel 12’s senior journalist Amit Segal claimed multiple bombs were dropped on the complex and suggested Khamenei may have been underground at the time of the strike.

However, Iranian officials firmly rejected the claims. Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, speaking to NBC News, said Khamenei was alive, adding that this was true “as far as I know.” Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei later told ABC News that the Supreme Leader was “safe and sound” and that the state apparatus remained fully functional.

Baghaei stressed that Iran’s system of governance was not dependent on a single individual and said the armed forces were conducting defensive operations in response to what he termed aggression.

The strikes began early Saturday, with some of the initial attacks reportedly targeting areas around the Supreme Leader’s offices. Iranian sources suggested that Khamenei had been moved to a secure location prior to the strikes.

In parallel remarks, Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump issued statements widely interpreted as appeals for regime change in Iran. Netanyahu urged the Iranian people to seize what he described as an opportunity for a new and free Iran, while Trump called on citizens to remain sheltered during ongoing operations and suggested that political change could follow the military campaign.

The competing claims over Khamenei’s status have added a layer of uncertainty to an already volatile confrontation. Independent confirmation regarding the Supreme Leader’s condition has not been made public at the time of filing this report.

The unfolding situation marks one of the most consequential escalations in recent Middle East history, with regional stability hanging in the balance as military operations continue. [KNT]