An anchor on Iranian state television broke down in tears while announcing the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after coordinated airstrikes on Tehran on Saturday (28 February) carried out by the United States and Israel. Reading a statement from the National Supreme Council, the presenter declared, “God is great,” before announcing that the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution had been “martyred” in what he described as a joint criminal attack. The presenter became visibly emotional part way through, pausing to compose himself before eventually sobbing.

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote in a social media post.

State media says attack that claimed Khamenei's life "occurred in the early hours of Saturday"; 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holidays announced in Iran.