Iran has declared 40 days of public mourning and seven days of public holiday following the death of its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The announcement was made on State television on Sunday after authorities officially confirmed his death.
According to the BBC, Iran’s State TV news channel – IRINN – displayed images of Khamenei accompanied by Quran recitations, with a black banner at the top left corner of the screen as a mark of mourning.
A presenter read a statement issued by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), which confirmed Khamenei’s death and blamed the United States and Israel for the attack that led to it.
The statement described his death as “martyrdom” and said it would mark the beginning of “an uprising in the fight against the oppressors.”
United States President, Donald Trump, had earlier announced the killing in a post on Truth Social late Saturday.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,” Trump said.
He added: “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country. We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us.”
The confirmation followed earlier claims by Israeli sources that Khamenei had been killed during Saturday’s strikes.