Trump Claims Iran’s Supreme Leader is 'Dead'

WASHINGTON, March 1 (Bernama-Agencies) -- US President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is "dead," Anadolu Ajansi reported.

His remarks on Truth Social platform came after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

"This is not only justice for the people of Iran, but for all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world...," Trump said.

Trump did not specify the source of his information.

"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," Trump said.

Trump added that this is "the single greatest chance" for the Iranian people to take back their country.

The president stated that US military operations, including “heavy and pinpoint bombing,” would continue “as long as necessary” to achieve broader regional security objectives.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei earlier said that Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian are safe, dismissing claims that they had been targeted in recent attacks.

Baghaei said that both are "safe and sound" in an interview with ABC News Live, Xinhua reported.

He gave assurance that the system in Iran is working "because our system is very sophisticated, rooted in our identity and based on a popular revolution."

Baghaei said Iran's establishment is not based solely on one individual, adding, "everything is being done in accordance with our plans, and our armed forces are conducting their defensive actions against this act of aggression that has been going on for the entire day."

-- BERNAMA-AGENCIES