<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 is said to have been killed.</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 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, although senior Iranian figures denied claims the supreme leader was dead.</span></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"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/benjamin-netanyahu" rel="" target="_blank" title="Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah"><span>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyah</span></a><span>u 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><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/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"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/donald-trump" rel="" target="_blank" title="US President Donald Trump"><span>US President Donald Trump</span></a><span> had been unable to confirm if Khamenei had been a casualty in the strikes, although he claimed that "a lot" of senior Iranian leadership was now gone.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We don't know all, but a lot of it is," he told NBC.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Shortly after Netanyahu's televised message, Iranian officials 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 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