•Late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Witnesses said yesterday that loud cheers echoed across parts of Tehran and residents took to their windows to applaud and play celebratory music after reports of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.
As at that time there was no confirmation from Iran, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were many signs that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed, while US President Donald Trump, asked by NBC News about a report of Khamenei’s demise, told the broadcaster: “We feel that that is a correct story”.
Two Israeli TV networks reported a photo of Khamenei’s body had been shown to Trump and Netanyahu, reports AFP.
Israel’s Channel 12 network reported that “30 bombs were dropped on” Khamenei’s compound.
The celebrations in Tehran began shortly after 11 pm (1930 GMT), according to multiple witnesses and audio recordings.
Loud and sustained whistles, cheers were heard and fireworks could be seen being launched on videos shared on social media that were verified by our correspondent.
People were not, however, coming out en masse into the streets to celebrate, according to social media.
Many Iranians were fearful after the deadly crackdown on mass anti-government protests last month.
The initial wave of protests began in December, sparked by economic woes in the sanctions-hit country, but soon grew into nationwide demonstrations that crested on January 8 and 9, posing one of the largest challenges to Iran’s leaders in years.
The unrest prompted a violent government crackdown that killed thousands of people.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, while warning the full toll is likely far higher.
Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by the United States and Israel.
During the protests, the government had sought to walk a line between acknowledging protesters’ legitimate economic grievances while condemning so-called “rioters”.
