President of the United States Donald Trump made a loud statement regarding the elimination of Iranian Ayatollah Khamenei. Below is the full text of his message published on the Truth Social platform:
"There has never been a more evil man in history than Khamenei, who is now dead. This is not only justice for the Iranian people but also for all those Americans and citizens of other countries who have died or suffered from the actions of his regime. He could not hide from our intelligence capabilities and high-tech surveillance systems. Working closely with Israel, he and other leaders killed alongside him had no chance. This is a unique opportunity for the Iranian people to take back their country. We hear that many from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other forces no longer want to participate in the war and are seeking protection from us," his message stated.
"As I said yesterday: now they can receive protection, but only death will follow!" Trump added, expressing hope that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and police would unite with Iranian patriots to restore the greatness of their country.
"The process of restoration must begin immediately, as Khamenei is dead, and the country is virtually destroyed. We will conduct massive and targeted bombings throughout the week or as long as it takes to achieve peace in the Middle East and ultimately in the world," Trump concluded.
Thank you for your attention to this topic.
"As I said yesterday: now they can receive protection, but only death will follow!" Trump added, expressing hope that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and police would unite with Iranian patriots to restore the greatness of their country.
"The process of restoration must begin immediately, as Khamenei is dead, and the country is virtually destroyed. We will conduct massive and targeted bombings throughout the week or as long as it takes to achieve peace in the Middle East and ultimately in the world," Trump concluded.
Thank you for your attention to this topic.
Reza Pahlavi, son of the last Shah of Iran, reacted to Khamenei's death.
"Ali Khamenei, the embodiment of the evil of our time, who killed tens of thousands of brave Iranians, is no more. With his death, the Islamic Republic has effectively ceased to exist and will soon disappear from history," Pahlavi wrote on social media.
He urged Iranian authorities not to appoint a successor and warned of a "last chance" for the power structure to join the people. "This is the beginning of our great national celebration, but it is not yet the end," he added.
After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, Pahlavi, along with his family, was forced to leave Iran and currently lives in the USA.
An analyst believes the US made a mistake, and Khamenei became a martyr.
Harlan Ullman, chairman of the Killowen strategic group and advisor to the Atlantic Council, noted that in his opinion, the US made a "serious mistake by killing Khamenei." "Now he is a martyr, and if Ali Larijani is alive, he could pose a serious threat. He is the chairman of the Supreme National Security Council," Ullman said in an interview with Al Jazeera.
He stated that he does not expect negotiations from the Iranian leadership, as was the case with Venezuela after the kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro in early January. "I don't think that will happen," he added.
"We may have empowered Larijani significantly, which could turn against us. Decapitation is effective only when all leaders are removed, and I am not sure we have achieved that," Ullman concluded.
Mourning and joy of Iranians in Mashhad.
The Iranian TV channel Press TV showed footage of grieving supporters of Khamenei at the Imam Reza mausoleum in Mashhad. The recording captures cries and wails, with some people lying on the floor in a state of grief.
At the same time, reports emerged of celebrations in Tehran following the announcement of his death. Many Iranians blame Khamenei and his power structures for orders to kill protesters across the country in recent weeks.
Trump: "Diplomacy has become easier" after the attack on Iran.
In the midst of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program, Trump criticized the country twice, and many experts argue that this move undermines trust in the US on diplomatic issues.
However, in an interview with CBS News, Trump stated that, in his opinion, the US is now in a stronger position to achieve a diplomatic solution with Iran.
"It's much easier now than it was yesterday, obviously," he said, adding: "They are being hit hard."
Trump also noted that Iran's retaliatory actions—attacks on Israel and American bases—were "less decisive than we expected." "We thought it would be twice as much," he added.
Qatar reports 16 injured as a result of Iran's attacks.
The Qatari Ministry of Interior reported eight new injuries from Iranian attacks, bringing the total number of casualties to 16.
The statement also mentioned "minor material damage in various areas."
Iran's president promises a response to Khamenei's assassination.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned Khamenei's assassination as a "great crime" and promised retaliatory measures in a statement from his administration.
"This crime will not go unpunished and will become a new chapter in the history of the Islamic world. The blood of this high-profile leader, shed like a roaring spring, will eradicate American-Zionist oppression," the statement read.
"This time, with full determination and support from the Islamic people and the free peoples of the world, we will make the perpetrators regret their actions," the administration added.
In addition to 40 days of mourning, Pezeshkian announced seven days of public holidays.
Photos: Iranians gather in Tehran to honor Khamenei's memory.
A woman cries in Enghelab Square in Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Sunday after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei due to Israeli and American strikes [Majid Asgaripur/WANA via Reuters].
[Western Asia News Agency via Reuters]
On Sunday, the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed as a result of a joint American-Israeli attack on the country on Saturday [Atta Kenare/AFP].
[Majid Asgaripur/WANA via Reuters]
[Atta Kenare/AFP]
