A few hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the news, Iranian state media confirmed the death of 86‑year‑old Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing him as a “martyr” in official television reports. In response, Iran declared a 40‑day national mourning period, and the Revolutionary Guards vowed retaliation for Khamenei’s death and for several other senior officials, including the armed forces’ chief‑of‑staff.
Trump cautioned against further counter‑strikes, warning on the social‑media platform Truth Social that “if they do, we will meet them with unprecedented violence”.
At the same time, amid Iranian retaliation raids, a second barrage of explosions struck Dubai. The iconic Burj Al Arab tower appeared to have been hit by an Iranian drone, and online videos show the hotel’s façade erupting in flames across several floors.
