Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed there are indications that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei “is no longer” alive, following intensified military strikes targeting senior Iranian leadership and strategic facilities.
Speaking amid escalating hostilities, Netanyahu said intelligence assessments point to significant disruption within Iran’s top command structure after coordinated attacks struck key compounds in and around Tehran. While he stopped short of declaring confirmed death, he stated there are “clear signs” suggesting Khamenei may no longer be in control.
Iran has swiftly rejected the assertion.
Officials in Tehran described the remarks as “psychological warfare” designed to destabilise the country and influence public perception during an active military confrontation. Iranian state media has not acknowledged any harm to the Supreme Leader and warned that disinformation forms part of the broader conflict strategy.
The claims come at a volatile moment in the long running standoff between Israel and Iran, now intensified by direct strikes and retaliatory missile launches across the region. Military analysts say confirmation of Khamenei’s death, if proven, would mark one of the most consequential developments in Middle Eastern geopolitics in decades, potentially triggering internal power struggles within Iran’s clerical establishment and reshaping regional alliances.
As of now, there is no independent verification of the Israeli claim. Diplomatic sources indicate that intelligence communities worldwide are closely monitoring communications and leadership movements within Iran for signs of confirmation or rebuttal.
With tensions at a peak and regional actors on high alert, uncertainty surrounding Iran’s top leadership adds another unpredictable dimension to an already escalating conflict.
