Trump Says "We Believe Reports of Khamenei's Death Are True"... Iran Denies Claims [US Iran Airstrikes]

Rumors of Death Originate in Israel
Iranian Officials Deny Reports, Say "Khamenei is Safe"

Reuters Yonhap News

On February 28 (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he believes reports of the death of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader, following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes are accurate.

In an interview with NBC in the United States on the same day, President Trump responded to questions regarding the reports of the Iranian Supreme Leader’s death by saying, "We believe it is true." He added, "We understand that many members of Iran’s leadership have died, although we do not know everything." Previously, Fox News reported, citing U.S. government officials, that about 5 to 10 members of Iran’s leadership had died.

The rumors of Khamenei’s death were first raised in Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a televised address that "there is increasing evidence that Iran’s Supreme Leader has died." Subsequently, Israeli media outlets began to report on the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader in succession.

The Iranian side is denying the reports as untrue. Esmail Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized in an interview with ABC in the United States that both Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Khamenei "are safe."

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