Iran's supreme leader Khamenei confirmed dead, says Trump

US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in air strikes, though there has been no confirmation from Tehran. 

"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," Trump said on his Truth Social network. 

"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."

Cheers could be heard on Tehran's streets after reports of the death of Khamenei, Iran's paramount leader since 1989, as plumes of black smoke hovered over the Pasteur district where he usually resides.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said there were "many signs that this tyrant is no longer alive."

The strikes prompted Tehran to fire off a missile barrage across the Middle East, with injuries and at least one death reported in explosions that rocked showcase cities in Gulf Arab monarchies.

Iranian authorities urged residents to evacuate the capital, a city of 10 million, while the country's Red Crescent society said that at least 201 people had been killed in the strikes and more than 700 wounded.

The UAE reported one civilian dead and damage from missiles in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as blasts from Tehran's retaliatory salvo and air defences intercepting it also echoed over Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had earlier told NBC News that Khamenei was alive "as far as I know", adding that "all high-ranking officials are alive". 

Also asked about Khamenei's health, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei told the BBC he was "not in a situation to confirm anything", but "the whole system, the whole nation is focused on defending [our] national integrity".

In a sign that the fighting was far from over, Netanyahu said "thousands" of targets would be hit over the coming days, while Iran's top security official vowed a fierce reprisal.

The Israeli army said that Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Khamenei, and the head of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, were both killed.

Ali Larijani, head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said: "The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors."

The attacks came after Trump expressed frustration at Iran's stance in negotiations over its nuclear and missile programmes.

In an earlier video address, Trump told Iranians the "hour of your freedom is at hand," urging them to rise up and "take over your government."

It was the first US military action of this scale apparently aimed at toppling a foreign government since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Trumpt said the death of Khamenei gave Iranians their "greatest chance" to "take back their country."

"The country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective," Trump posted.

– TIMES/AFP