Leadership Council formed to guide the nation; Trump claims 48 Iranian leaders killed in one fell swoop; Iranian strikes kill 9
Satellite image of a destroyed residential compound belonging to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after a joint US-Israeli airstrike in Tehran. Photo: ReutersS
WASHINGTON/TEHRAN:
Iran has vowed retaliation after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US and Israeli airstrike, as authorities quickly formed an interim leadership structure to guide the country through the ongoing crisis.
State media described the assassination as a decisive attack on the Islamic Republic’s political and religious leaders. President Masoud Pezeshkian said avenging Khamenei’s death was both “the duty and the right of the nation.”
As the war entered its second day, Israeli forces launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, declaring their goal was to dominate the skies. Iran, in return, fired missiles at several neighboring countries and struck at least two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian state media confirmed that the 86-year-old supreme leader died while working at his central leadership compound, alongside family members including his daughter and grandchildren. Pezeshkian described the strike as a war against all Muslims.
In a televised address, Pezeshkian said: “The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime. » He added that it was a “declaration of war against Muslims”, particularly targeting the Shiite community.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said in remarks to Trump and his close ally, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, that Iran’s retaliation against the United States and Israel would be fierce.
“We will hit you with blows so terrifying that you yourselves will be driven to beg. I say to Trump and Netanyahu and their agents and proxies, I repeat, I say to these two dirty criminals and all their agents: you have crossed our red line and you must pay the price.”
Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, has warned that the country will strike its enemies with unprecedented force. “We will hit them with blows so terrifying that they will beg for mercy,” Larijani said in a televised address.
Iran’s security leadership moved quickly to ensure continuity of governance. An interim council was formed, consisting of the president, the head of the judiciary and a representative of the Guardian Council.
Cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was named to the leadership council, which will govern until the Assembly of Experts selects a permanent supreme leader. The government announced a 40-day mourning period as well as seven days of public holidays to honor Khamenei.
Thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran’s central squares, carrying portraits of the late leader and chanting slogans against the United States and Israel. However, Iranian public opinion appeared divided, as some anti-government citizens reportedly rejoiced.
The joint US-Israeli campaign, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury,” killed Khamenei as well as several top military and intelligence commanders. Trump said in an interview on Sunday that “no one can believe the success we’re having, 48 leaders gone in one fell swoop.”
Meanwhile, Israeli forces launched a new wave of strikes on Tehran, declaring their goal was to dominate its skies. Officials said the air operations destroyed about half of Iran’s missile stockpiles and dismantled defense networks in western and central Iran.
The Pentagon said three US service members were killed and five seriously injured during the operations. U.S. military officials confirmed the continuation of combat missions, describing the campaign as ongoing and aimed at degrading Iranian command structures.
Iran responded with widespread missile attacks across the region. The Israeli ambulance service reported nine deaths in Beit Shemesh. Explosions were also reported in Dubai, Doha, Manama and Riyadh, where casualties were recorded.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have reported three deaths and dozens injured since the Iranian strikes began. Kuwait confirmed one death and 32 injured, while some victims in the region were foreign nationals.
Regional air and port infrastructure also suffered damage. Facilities in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other Gulf cities have been hit by debris from intercepted drones and missiles. Operations in the Jebel Ali port area have been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.
Shipping routes have been severely disrupted after attacks near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared the crossing closed. Major shipping companies, including Maersk and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, have suspended regional operations.
The tankers were clustered in open waters off the coasts of major Gulf oil producers including Iraq and Saudi Arabia, as well as LNG giant Qatar, according to ship tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform.
Two commercial vessels were struck in separate incidents. An oil tanker off the coast of Oman caught fire, but the fire was later brought under control. Iranian state media claimed another tanker was sinking after attempting to transit the strategic waterway.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard also said it launched an attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln with four ballistic missiles, although the U.S. military said it sank an Iranian ship.
Cybersecurity incidents have accompanied the military escalation. Several Iranian websites and a religious calendar app downloaded more than five million times were hacked, displaying messages calling on Iranian forces to disarm. Internet connectivity in Iran has fallen sharply.
President Trump warned that Washington would strike Iran with “never-before-seen force” if retaliation continued. He also said in interviews that military operations against Iran were “ahead of schedule” and proceeding quickly.
