Israel Claims Assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that Israel assassinated Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for leading a plan to destroy the Jewish state. The killing occurred during a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike on February 28, which also targeted military commanders and civilians. Katz warned that any successor, including the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who was injured in the same strike, would be eliminated if they pursued similar goals.

Millions of mourners gathered for funeral processions in Tehran, featuring anti-U.S. and anti-Israel slogans and bounties for President Donald Trump. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf vowed that the perpetrators would face justice, stating that the final stage of revenge would be the liberation of Jerusalem. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Iran would teach Israel a lesson if it ignored instructions from the U.S.

Despite the escalation, the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17 to end their military conflict. While Donald Trump stated that negotiations are currently paused until July 9, Iranian officials described the agreement's implementation as difficult but possible. Meanwhile, the ceasefire is strained in Lebanon, where Hezbollah-affiliated lawmakers accuse Israel of violating a June 26 framework agreement through continued house demolitions and civilian casualties in southern Lebanon.