Iranian state television on Sunday officially announced the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

The announcement was made at about 5:00 a.m. (0130 GMT), with the broadcaster airing archive footage of the late leader against a black banner, signalling a period of national mourning.

Khamenei, 86, had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the Middle East.

The confirmation followed earlier claims by US President Donald Trump, who had stated that Khamenei was killed in air strikes. Before the state television broadcast, Iranian authorities had not issued any formal confirmation regarding his death.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in History,” adding that his death represented “Justice for the people of Iran” and others he alleged had suffered under his leadership.

The US president also claimed that Khamenei had been “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems,” and suggested that the development offered Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back their country.”

Trump further alleged that members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military, and security agencies were unwilling to continue fighting and were seeking immunity.

“As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’” he wrote, adding that US military operations would continue.

“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world!” Trump stated.

As of the time of filing this report, Iranian authorities had not released additional details regarding the circumstances surrounding Khamenei’s death.