Iran Observes 40-Day Mourning After Supreme Leader Assassination

Iran Declares 40-Day Mourning Period Following Supreme Leader’s Death

President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued a statement condemning the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as “a great crime”. The Iranian government has confirmed that Khamenei was killed in ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel. Top security officials, including Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, were also among those targeted.

The killings mark a significant blow to Iran’s leadership since the 1979 Islamic revolution. In response, President Pezeshkian has declared seven days of public holidays in addition to the 40-day mourning period. The government has also announced that it will temporarily assume all leadership duties until a new supreme leader is elected.

Protests have been reported across Iran and neighboring countries, including Iraq, where demonstrators confronted security forces in Baghdad’s Green Zone. In Pakistan, protesters set fire to the US consulate in Karachi. However, there have also been reports of celebrations in some areas, with witnesses describing people taking to the streets in Tehran and other cities.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has pledged revenge against the United States and Israel, launching strikes on 27 bases hosting US troops and Israeli military facilities in Tel Aviv. Explosions have continued to be reported in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, with security alerts in place across the region.

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it will face “a force that has never been seen before” if it retaliates. Iran’s retaliatory attacks have targeted Israel and US assets across multiple Middle East countries, including Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.

Source: Al Jazeera