The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are set to appoint a new Supreme Leader within hours after President Donald Trump hailed the death of the 'evil' Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
An announcement on his successor is expected in the early hours of Sunday morning, however, Islamic Republic officials have yet to confirm the death of the 86-year-old leader.
On his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump declared: "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.
"This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty thugs.
He added: "We are hearing that many of their IRGC, military, and other security and police forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for immunity from us."
The President went on to say that "heavy and pinpoint bombing" will continue in Iran will continue until "peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world" is achieved.
The conflict has spilled over into surrounding countries, with Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan all being targeting since the US and Israel launched military action against Tehran on Saturday morning.
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Family of Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israel strikes
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law were all killed in US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, Iranian state media has reported.
Images released shortly after the attack showed significant destruction to the 86-year-old leader's official residence compound in Tehran.
Son of ousted Iranian Shah says Islamic Republic will be 'consigned to the dustbin of history'
Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last Shah, has said the Islamic Republic will soon be “consigned to the dustbin of history” following Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death in US-Israeli strikes.
Shortly after President Trump confirmed the Ayatollah had been killed, Mr Pahlavi wrote on X: "Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty despot of our time, the murderer of tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the face of history.
"With his death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.
"Any attempt by the remnants of the regime to appoint a successor to Khamenei is doomed to fail from the outset. Whoever they place in his stead will have neither legitimacy nor longevity, and will undoubtedly be complicit in the crimes of this regime as well."
He added: "The death of the criminal Khamenei, though it does not avenge the blood that has been spilled, may serve as a balm for the wounded hearts of the grieving fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and the families of those who gave their lives in Iran’s Lion and Sun National Revolution."
'They had their chance!' US Secretary of War says Iran 'suffering the consequences' of not striking a deal
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the Islamic Republic is “suffering the consequences” of failing to reach a deal with the US to avoid conflict.
He wrote on social media: "Overnight, on President Trump’s orders, the Department of War commenced OPERATION EPIC FURY - the most lethal, most complex, and most-precision aerial operation in history.
"The Iranian regime had their chance, yet refused to make a deal - and now they are suffering the consequences.
"For almost 50 years, Iran has targeted and killed Americans, always seeking the world’s most powerful weapons to further their radical cause.
"Last night, unlike any previous president, President Trump began dealing with this cancer.
"We will not tolerate powerful missiles targeting the American people. Those missiles will be destroyed, along with Iran’s missile production. The Iranian navy will be destroyed.
"And, as President Trump has said his entire life, Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.
"The United States did not start this conflict, but we will finish it. If you kill or threaten Americans anywhere in the world - as Iran has - then we will hunt you down, and we will kill you.
"Our warriors are the best in the world, and they are fully unleashed to achieve our objectives.
"May God’s providence protect them in this vital mission."
One killed and at least 121 injured after Iran launches retaliatory strikes across Israel
Israel has confirmed that one civilian has been killed and at least 121 people injured after Iran launched waves of retaliatory strikes across the country on Saturday.
In a statement, the national emergency service Magen David Adom (MDA) said most of the injuries were “mild”.
The MDA said paramedics had “provided medical treatment and evacuated a total of 121 casualties to hospitals nationwide, including: a woman in her fifties who was killed, 2 patients in moderate condition, and 119 in mild condition”.
The fatality is believed to have occurred in Tel Aviv.
RECAP: How did we get here?
Just after 6am GMT, Israel launched what it described as a “pre-emptive attack” on Iran, with waves of strikes hitting Tehran and several other cities.
Defence Minister Israel Katz confirmed on Saturday morning that a “special and permanent state of emergency” had been declared across Israel.
An Israeli official said the operation had been planned for months, with the launch date set weeks ago.
Dozens of American strikes were then carried out by warplanes operating from bases across the Middle East.
President Donald Trump later confirmed the US military had begun “major combat operations” in Iran.
"Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime."
He also urged the Iranian people to “take over your government” once the military action is completed.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard responded by launching waves of drone and missile strikes against Israel, as well as targets in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan.
Israeli officials later claimed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in US and Israeli air strikes, with his body reportedly recovered from the rubble following a “major combat operation”.
Donald Trump confirmed the Islamic Republic’s leader had been killed shortly after the reports surfaced, writing on Truth Social: "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead."
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