The fate of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is unknown Saturday after a joint US-Israel attack leveled numerous buildings at the leader’s fortified compound.
Conflicting reports about whether Khamenei, 86, survived the bombing swirled in Iranian and Israeli media.
The Jewish State “assesses” that Khamenei was likely killed in the morning strike, Israel’s Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed intelligence sources.
Smoke is seen rising in Tehran after strikes. X / Khosro K Isfahani
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has presumably survived Operation Epic Fury. Anadolu via Getty ImagesThe TV station had earlier reported that the supreme leader had been “hurt at the very least.”
The outlet noted that the assessment was not based on satellite imagery of Khamenei’s flattened compound, but rather on information from human intelligence sources.
Behnam Ben Taleblu, Iran program head at Foundation for Defending Democracies, cautioned that in his estimation Khamenei’s house was struck, but the cleric is not dead “yet.”
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei is alive “as far as I know.”
Khamenei was reportedly not in Tehran when the missiles struck the compound, which serves as his official residence, and has since been moved to an undisclosed secure location, Iranian sources told Reuters. Iranian state-run media claims Khamenei will deliver an address later in the day.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also appears to be unscathed, according to his son.
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“The assassination attempts failed and other officials are also healthy,” Yusuf Pezeshkian said, Turkiye Today reported, confirming his father was targeted.
“We will probably experience a longer conflict and this will be a war of attrition. Therefore, determination and patience are essential to get through these days.”
The two officials were targets of the mission, the objective of which President Trump said was to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime.”
Araghchi admitted that at least two Iranian commanders were killed in the attack.
At least seven missiles struck the area around Khamenei’s fortified complex in central Tehran, with additional strikes near the presidential palace.
Airstrikes were also reported in other enclaves, including Isfahan, Qom, Karaj and Kermanshah, but the full extent of the attack was not yet clear early Saturday.
Iran responded with a series of retaliatory attacks across in Bahrain, one of which struck a US Navy base.
Numerous US and Israeli officials theorized Saturday that the campaign in Iran could last weeks as military forces seek to find and take out regime leaders.
Khamenei has ruled Iran since 1989.
