Iran's supreme leader dead - Revolutionary Guards vow revenge

According to the media, a woman died when a rocket hit an apartment block in the Israeli coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. Dozens of people were injured. A drone attack on the international airport in Bahrain caused damage to property, as the local Ministry of the Interior announced on X. Bahrain is the headquarters of the US Navy in the Middle East. Previously, the airports in Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates had already reported strikes. Several Arab countries strongly condemned Iran's counterattacks.

Trump: "Greatest opportunity for the Iranian people"

US President Donald Trump had already announced Khamenei's death before Iran's state media. "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead," the Republican wrote on his Truth Social platform. This is the "greatest opportunity for the Iranian people to take back their country."

After the first reports of Khamenei's death, spontaneous jubilation broke out in Tehran. Residents of the Iranian capital reported people shouting with joy from their windows. The news had been spread by Iranian media in exile, which can be received via satellite in Iran. Honking horns could be heard on the streets.

Iran announces retaliation

Meanwhile, a government statement said: "This great crime will not go unanswered and will open a new chapter in the history of the Islamic world and Shiism". Khamenei's blood will "gush forth like a torrential spring and eradicate the American-Zionist injustice and crimes", the statement continued.

According to consistent media reports, several of Khamenei's relatives were also killed. The website Al-Arabiya reported, citing the Iranian news agency Fars, that a daughter of Khamenei, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law and a grandson had been killed. There was initially no confirmation of this from Iran.

When asked whether there was someone in Iran he would like to see at the head of the country, US President Trump told CBS News: "Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates." And when asked who he thought would be in charge in Iran after Khamenei's death, he said: "I know exactly who, but I can't tell you."

Shah's son Pahlavi brings himself into play as interim leader

The son of the Shah of Persia, who was overthrown in 1979, Reza Pahlavi, once again put himself forward as the interim leader of Iran. "Many Iranians have asked me, often despite life-threatening situations, to lead this transition," he wrote in the Washington Post. He wanted to answer their call and pave the way for a new constitution. This should be followed by free elections.

Trump announced that the bombing of Iran would continue until peace returns to the region and the whole world. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described his country's attacks against Iran, which began on Saturday morning, as the "deadliest, most complex and precise air campaign in history".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the attacks on Iran with the need to protect his country from an existential threat from Tehran. This refers to Iran's nuclear and missile program. The murderous terror regime must "not be allowed to equip itself with nuclear weapons that would enable it to threaten all of humanity", said Netanyahu.

Israel continues air strikes

The Israeli air force continued its waves of attacks in Iran during the night. Ballistic missile launch sites and the arch-enemy's air defense systems were targeted, according to the army.

At Russia's request, there will be a special meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Monday, the organization announced. Iran had previously called for a special meeting, citing a "threat" to nuclear facilities in the country.

On Thursday, the USA and Iran were still negotiating indirectly about the Islamic Republic's controversial nuclear program. US President Trump had given Tehran an ultimatum until the beginning of March to reach an agreement - and threatened to take military action if no agreement was reached.