Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have been shown a photograph of a body claimed to be Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Israeli officials stating he was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes on his compound.
Public broadcaster Kan reported: “Senior Israeli officials were informed of Khamenei’s elimination. His body was recovered from the rubble of his compound.” Channel 12 stated: “A photo of the body was shown to Netanyahu and Trump.”
There has been no confirmation of Khamenei’s death from Tehran. Iranian authorities have not responded to the Israeli claims or released any statement regarding the Supreme Leader’s status.
Netanyahu addressed the nation in a televised speech on Saturday evening, stating that airstrikes in Iran had destroyed the Supreme Leader’s compound and adding that “all indications show this tyrant is no longer with us.” However, he stopped short of explicitly confirming death.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry earlier denied reports of Khamenei’s death, with a spokesperson telling media outlets the Supreme Leader and president were both “safe and sound.” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated Khamenei is alive “as far as I know.”
The contradictory claims from Israeli and Iranian officials have created uncertainty about Khamenei’s fate following the coordinated US-Israeli strikes. Multiple Israeli officials have made the death claim, but Tehran’s silence on providing evidence of life has fuelled speculation.
Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the Middle East following the joint US-Israel attack on Tehran. Four people were injured in an Iranian missile strike on the world-famous five-star Fairmont hotel in Dubai.
Dramatic footage captured the moment the Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel was hit by an ultra-fast Shahed drone, setting the front of the building’s exterior ablaze. The attack marked an expansion of Iran’s retaliation beyond military targets to commercial areas.
The strikes on Khamenei’s compound in Tehran were part of coordinated US-Israeli operations targeting multiple Iranian cities including Bushehr, Qom, Karaj, Kermanshah and Isfahan. Both his palace and compound in the capital are reported to have been destroyed.
The photograph shown to Trump and Netanyahu has not been released publicly. Israeli officials have not disclosed when the image was taken or how it was obtained from the rubble of the destroyed compound.
Verification of Khamenei’s death remains difficult without independent confirmation or evidence from Iranian authorities. The absence of any public appearance or statement from the Supreme Leader since Saturday’s strikes adds to speculation about his status.
