<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-launch-attack-on-iran-live-updates-us-begins-major-combat-operations--israel-launches-attack-on-irans-capital/2a7ce3d3-dbba-413c-9053-397468cc6bec" rel="" target="_blank" title="was a key target in the US-Israel attacks"><span>was a key target in the US-Israel attacks</span></a><span> and US President Donald Trump has now announced he has been killed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iranian state media has also confirmed that Khamenei is dead with a brief statement which said the supreme leader "has reached martyrdom". </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Khamenei, who has been supreme leader since 1989, was reportedly in his compound in Tehran when the joint </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/israels-defence-minister-says-his-country-has-attacked-iran-and-declares-a-state-of-emergency/cf1d7de7-7078-4232-9219-920759c85f2b" rel="" target="_blank" title="assault was launched on military and government sites in Iran."><span>assault was launched on military and government sites in Iran.</span></a></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-launch-attack-on-iran-live-updates-us-begins-major-combat-operations--israel-launches-attack-on-irans-capital/2a7ce3d3-dbba-413c-9053-397468cc6bec" target="_blank" title="Iran launches retaliatory attacks on US bases, Israel"><strong><span>Iran launches retaliatory attacks on US bases, Israel</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Satellite images showed black smoke billowing from the compound, which appeared completely destroyed, and although senior Iranian figures earlier denied claims the supreme leader was dead, Trump confirmed Khamenei's death with a post on Truth Social.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/us-israel-strike-on-iran-footage-of-drones-in-dubai/e3fd2380-3cbd-424c-a2c9-df63ac5979e2" rel="" target="_blank" title="'Never heard before': Dubai hotel damaged in explosion as debris rains down on city"><strong><span>'Never heard before': Dubai hotel damaged in explosion as debris rains down on city</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," Trump said in a post to his social media platform.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-strike-on-iran-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei/14563354-250d-40b4-8330-645799b4e899" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"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."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In announcing Khamenei's death, Trump said the supreme leader could not hide from the US attempts to smoke him out of his foxhole.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do," Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said there were "many signs" that the missing supreme leader "is no longer with us" following the military operation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"All indications show this tyrant is no longer with us", Netanyahu said, confirming that strikes had destroyed Khamenei's residence in Tehran.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sources from inside Israel told CNN that Khamenei's death had been confirmed and that the government had obtained a photo of the leader's dead body.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shortly after Netanyahu's televised message, Iranian officials had claimed Khamenei was alive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told US ABC News that Khamenei is "safe and sound", along with President Masoud Pezeshkian, despite the growing reports to the contrary.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In a further response to reports of Khamenei's death, Iranian state media claimed that the "enemy is resorting to mental warfare".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/iran-strikes-smart-traveller-advice-travel-disruption-government-warnings-to-australians/30be8460-140d-4612-924d-7e41a1d1251b" rel="" target="_blank" title="Aussies warned against travelling to Qatar, UAE in wake of strikes on Iran"><strong><span>Aussies warned against travelling to Qatar, UAE in wake of strikes on Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Iranian officials had promised to share a recording from Khamenei after the strikes began.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sources previously stated that Khamenei had left Tehran and was in a "secure location".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Who is Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Khamenei is an Iranian politician and cleric and has been Iran's supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He was elected president in 1981 but his influence in Iran has been strong since the 1979 revolution.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As supreme leader, Khamenei essentially controls Iran's armed forces, the Revolutionary Guard and is able to oversee the state-run media.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under Khamenei's rule, Iran has been involved in several proxy wars, including with Israel and Saudi Arabia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has been accused of brutalising his own people by using military control to quash any uprising against his autocratic leadership.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has been reported that forces have killed countless Iranians protesting the government conditions under his regime.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Multiple internet blackouts, including during recent protests, have also been used as a weapon to disrupt any potential dissent from citizens.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Trump's growing warnings</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Khamenei has been the subject of threats from Trump for some time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The US president said earlier this year that the Iranian leader should be "very worried".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Trump has called for a regime change in Iran and last year ordered attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>During his speech in the wake of last night's US-Israel operation, Trump said that Iran's "terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/donald-trump-strikes-on-iran-full-speech-transcript/4dabc670-7f04-4d01-8e29-fffdce9c0836" target="_blank" title="Trump tells Iranian officials to lay down arms or 'face death'"><strong><span>Trump tells Iranian officials to lay down arms or 'face death'</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/usa-israel-attack-iran-anthony-alabanese-statement-australia/8994873d-8665-41cf-ad9e-b63836ba6fde" target="_blank" title="Albanese supports US actions after strikes on Iran"><strong><span>Albanese supports US actions after strikes on Iran</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That is why in Operation Midnight Hammer last June, we obliterated the regime's nuclear program at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan," Trump said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"After that attack, we warned them never to resume their malicious pursuit of nuclear weapons, and we sought repeatedly to make a deal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They've rejected every opportunity to renounce their nuclear ambitions, and we can't take it anymore."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In response to growing US threats, Khamenei warned the US that if "if anyone shows greed and wants to attack or harass, the Iranian nation will deal a heavy blow to them".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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