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Iranian leaders have pledged to retaliate following the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, defying warnings from US President Donald Trump of a severe military response.
Senior officials on Sunday described the assassination as a major provocation and signalled plans for fresh strikes targeting US interests in the Gulf.Â
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian described the killing as an act of war against Muslims and said Tehran reserved the right to respond against those responsible.
Also reacting, Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said Iran’s military and citizens would deliver a decisive response to what he called aggression by global powers.
“The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to the international oppressors.”
Explosions were reported in parts of Tehran as Israeli forces announced renewed strikes on targets in the capital.
Blasts were also heard across several cities in the Middle East, including Jerusalem, Riyadh, Dubai, Doha, and Manama.
In Tehran, reactions were mixed after state media confirmed Khamenei’s death. Demonstrators gathered, chanting anti-US slogans “Death to America!” and calling for revenge, as authorities signalled continued military action.
Iran’s armed forces said they had launched strikes on US bases in the Gulf and in Iraqi Kurdistan, following earlier retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the region. Casualties were reported in multiple locations, including Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
Despite the escalation, Trump reportedly warned that any further Iranian retaliation would be met with force, reiterating that US military operations would continue as long as necessary.
The fallout has spread beyond Iran, with protests starting in neighbouring countries. In Karachi, demonstrators attempted to storm the US consulate, resulting in fatalities, while similar unrest was reported in parts of Iraq.
Iranian authorities said hundreds had been killed or injured in the strikes, including senior officials such as Ali Shamkhani and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammad Pakpour.
