Iran's Supreme Leader is dead, Trump announces

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader for almost 37 years, has died at the hands of American and Israeli strikes, Donald Trump announced tonight. 

In a post on Truth Social, the US President called Khamenei 'one of the most evil people in history' as he announced he died during the joint airstrikes on Tehran.

Trump wrote: '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. 

'He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.'

Earlier reports said the Ayatollah's body was found under rubble in his compound in Iran after US and Israeli airstrikes.

Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have been shown a photograph of his body, according to Israeli officials. There has been no confirmation of Khamenei's death from Tehran.

While bombardment has erupted across multiple Gulf countries - including in tourist hotspot Dubai and Bahrain - Iranians living in the West have celebrated the news. 

Hundreds of jubilant Persians from the hills of Los Angeles, to the streets of central London, have rejoiced that the leader of the Iranian regime was declared dead. 

In a televised address on Saturday evening, the Israeli Prime Minister said that airstrikes in Iran had destroyed the Supreme Leader's compound, and added that 'all indications show this tyrant is no longer with us.' 

Follow all the latest on the Daily Mail's live blog. 

Iran's Supreme Leader is dead, Trump announces

In a post on Truth Social, the US President tonight announced that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed.

See Trump's statement in full below:

Trump and Netanyahu 'shown a picture of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's body'

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, multiple Israeli officials have claimed.

His body was found under rubble in his compound in Iran after US and Israeli airstrikes.

Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu have been shown a photograph of his body.

'A photo of the body was shown to Netanyahu and Trump,' reported Channel 12.

'Senior Israeli officials were informed of Khamenei's elimination. His body was recovered from the rubble of his compound,' reported public broadcaster Kan. There has been no confirmation of Khamenei's death from Tehran.

How Iran's dramatic drone blitz on westerners unfolded

00:05

Trump proceeds with $1 million‑per‑plate Mar‑a‑Lago fundraiser despite Iran strikes

Trump is still set to host his million-dollar-dinner at his Palm Beach club this evening, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told White House Producer Sara Cook.

'President Trump still intends to stop by the fundraiser being held at Mar-a-Lago this evening for the Republican party, which is more important than ever,' Cook wrote on X, quoting the secretary.

23:52

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations says America and Israel 'must be held accountable'

Iran Ambassador to the UN Amir-Saeid Iravani said the US and Israel have 'violated international law and the charter of the United Nations,' during an emergency Security Council meeting.

'They must be held accountable,' he declared.

Iravani accused US President Donald Trump of lying about the rationale behind the military strikes to 'manufacture consent for unlawful war.' He reiterated that Iran has the right to self-defense.

'All bases, facilities and assets of the hostile forces in the region shall be regarded as legitimate military objectives within the framework of Iran’s lawful exercise of self-defense,' he said.

The ambassador added that 'hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured' in the strikes, which he described as a 'war crime.'

23:38

Over 100 killed in horror strike on girls’ school, Iranian state media says

The death toll from the US-Israeli strike on a girls’ school in the southern Iranian city of Minab has risen to at least 108, according to the city’s prosecutor.

Iranian state media IRIB shared a video showing at least eight body bags on the floor of a building following the deadly strike.

The local governor has declared Sunday a day of public mourning in the province, IRIB added.

23:32

Intercepted Iranian missiles from UAE air defense land in desert playground, images reveal

The United Arab Emirates released photos showing debris and electronic components from intercepted Iranian missiles after air defense systems shot down a new wave of projectiles launched toward the country.

Images captured fragments of the fast-moving projectiles, including exposed wiring and internal guidance components, recovered in Abu Dhabi after the interceptions.

Officials said the missiles were successfully intercepted with no injuries or damage reported, despite debris falling across several parts of Abu Dhabi.

In a statement issued Saturday, the UAE Ministry of Defense announced their air defense systems 'successfully intercepted a new wave of Iranian missiles launched toward the country.'

They said the threat was handled with 'high efficiency,' and that no damage or casualties were reported.

Fragments were reported in several areas including Saadiyat Island, the St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Khalifa City, Beni Yas, Mohamed Bin Zayed City and Al Falah.

The ministry confirmed the country will remain on high alert and is prepared to respond to any further threats.

23:25

Former US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene tells Trump: 'This is NOT it'

Marjorie Taylor Greene, a one‑time staunch supporter of Trump, shared a lengthy post to X condemning the president's announcement that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed.

'Great Mr President. Good job. You’re a billionaire and the American people, not the Iranian people, who voted for you are not billionaires,' she wrote.

She highlighted economic inequality in the US, noting that many Americans are 'flat out broke,' burdened with high credit card debt, lacking health or car insurance and struggling to afford housing.

'Your generation, the baby boomers, your families were able to thrive on single incomes and now that’s practically impossible for the vast majority of American families,' Greene said.

'Most of your baby boomer friends and supporters, I’m sure are cheering you the most,' she added.

'But us younger generations, Gen X, Millennials, and especially Gen Z hate this f***ing bull****.'

She warned that decisions made now will burden younger generations with problems like bankrupt social security, a massive national debt - specifically over $50 trillion - and a devalued dollar.

'We, as in YOU and me, campaigned on America First. And this is NOT it,' she wrote.

23:13

Breaking:Iran ambassador tells the United Nations they will retaliate 'without hesitation'

Iran Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani described the strikes as tantamount to a war on the UN Charter and a direct assault on the international legal order upon which the United Nations was founded.

Iran’s ambassador and foreign ministry argued that the actions by the United States and Israel meet none of the criteria for lawful self‑defense and constitute a violation of Article 2.

Iran maintained that in responding to this aggression, it is exercising its 'inherent and lawful right' to self-defense under the Charter's Article 51.

The government said Iran will continue to exercise its right to self‑defense 'without hesitation' until the aggression ceases, adding that Tehran remains 'firmly committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors.'

23:08

Dramatic first images inside Trump's Mar-a-Lago Situation Room... but where is JD Vance?

The White House has released images of Donald Trump monitoring the strikes on Iran from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

One photo taken from situation room shows CIA Director John Ratcliffe briefing the president while Marco Rubio and Susie Wiles listen in.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General John Daniel 'Raizin' Caine was also seen in another image briefing the president in the Florida situation room.

Dramatic first images inside Trump's Mar-a-Lago as US attacked Iran
Here's what Trump looked like when the US launched strikes on Iran.
23:05

Airstrike horror as '85 schoolgirls are killed in Iran' and Trump's base turns on 'evil' war

At least 85 people have been killed in an airstrike on an elementary school in southern Iran, the government in Tehran claims.

Missiles struck the Shajareh Tayyebeh school in the the city of Minab, in Hormozgan province, on Saturday morning as the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran. The majority of the dead are schoolgirls aged between seven and 12.

Trump is already facing fierce political backlash for pulling the US into a new war in the Middle East.

Conservative podcasting titan Tucker Carlson branded Trump's attack 'absolutely disgusting and evil' as the president's MAGA base fractured.

85 dead at Iran girls school as US-Israeli strikes spark carnage
At least 85 people have been killed in an airstrike on an elementary school in southern Iran , according to the judiciary in Tehran.
23:05

US ambassador to the United Nations says the strikes on Iran were 'lawful actions'

US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz defended the military strikes during a UN Security Council session, describing them as 'lawful actions.'

He argued that diplomacy cannot move forward without a credible partner committed to peace, becoming the first US official aside from President Trump to speak publicly after the joint US-Israeli strikes.

'The international community has long affirmed a simple and necessary principle, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,' Walz said, according to CNN.

'That principle is not a matter of politics, it’s a matter of global security, and to that end, the United States is taking awful actions this month,' he added.

He said the Pentagon’s 'Operation Epic Fury' targeted only military sites and represented a broader initiative to curb Iranian aggression and block Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.

'Operation Epic Fury is directed towards specific and strategic objectives, to dismantle missile capabilities that threaten allies, to degrade naval assets used to destabilize international waters and to disrupt the machinery that arms proxy militias and to ensure the Iranian regime never, ever can threaten the world with a nuclear weapon,' he said.

'Diplomacy cannot succeed where there is no genuine willingness to cease aggression, where there is no genuine partner for peace.'