“A revenge is coming. A revenge is coming soon. They will see what they have done,” an Iranian state news channel declared after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israel airstrikes.
During a live broadcast on Khamenei, PressTV anchor Maryam Azarchehr broke down on air as she announced the news.
“Today, those mourning him will be the orphans across the world, as the orphans once mourned Imam Ali, peace be upon him,” she said. “Today the devils of the world will celebrate — and everybody they have managed to brainwash.”
Her tone soon turned into a warning aimed directly at US President Donald Trump.
“This is not over. Trump is going to pay a price — a price paid by no American president at any time, paid by no Zionist, paid by no criminal of all time,” she said. “Revenge is coming. Revenge is coming soon. It is coming after Trump and after everybody who facilitated this assassination. He will pay the ultimate price.”
She added that retaliation would not come “only from the millions of Iranians” or from “resistance countries,” but also from those “who have newly joined the resistance — Americans, Europeans — who saw the legacy of Imam Khomeini against Zionism.”
“For years they accused him of being anti-West for no reason, of saying ‘Down with Israel’ for no reason. But he was the power that the oppressed of the world gathered around,” she said. “With honour and pride they said: Down with USA. Down with Israel.”
Operation ‘Epic Fury’
On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched daylight “pre-emptive” strikes in Tehran. In an operation dubbed “Epic Fury,” one of the first strikes targeted areas near Khamenei’s heavily guarded Leadership House compound.
Later in the day, Trump announced the Iranian leader’s death on Truth Social.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” he wrote, calling the strike “justice for the people of Iran” and for Americans and others allegedly harmed by Iran.
Strikes began around 09:30 Tehran time, with explosions reported near the compound. Satellite imagery showed blackened buildings and debris within a kilometre of the site. Israeli officials later said the compound had been destroyed in what they described as a “powerful surprise strike.”
Iran later announced a 40-day period of national mourning
Khamenei had ruled since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Over nearly four decades, he consolidated control over the clerical establishment, judiciary and armed forces.
There is no publicly confirmed successor. Under Iran’s constitution, a panel of clerics selects the next supreme leader. However, analysts warn that in wartime, power could shift temporarily to a council or to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
With tensions at boiling point, even minor factional fractures could destabilise the political system Khamenei spent decades fortifying.
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