By Nworisa Michael
Iran has vowed to retaliate following the reported killing of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, after coordinated strikes allegedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
Iranian state television confirmed the development, describing it as a major escalation in the ongoing conflict between Tehran and its regional and Western adversaries.
President Masoud Pezeshkian declared that avenging Khamenei’s death is a “legitimate duty and right” of the Islamic Republic.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to pursue the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime,” Pezeshkian said in a statement broadcast nationwide.
The president described the killing as a “declaration of war against Muslims,” signaling that Iran views the incident as an act of open aggression.
The current crisis stems from long-standing hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel. Tensions have intensified over the years over Iran’s nuclear programme, regional influence, and its support for armed groups across the Middle East.
The situation reportedly escalated after a large-scale joint military operation allegedly launched by the United States and Israel targeting Iranian military infrastructure. Tehran responded with drone and missile strikes against strategic locations in the Gulf region, accusing its adversaries of attempting to destabilise the Islamic Republic.
In recent days, cross-border attacks and retaliatory strikes have heightened fears of a broader regional war, drawing in neighbouring Gulf states and disrupting commercial and aviation activities across the Middle East.
A senior official of the United Arab Emirates urged Tehran to halt attacks on Gulf states, warning that continued escalation could further isolate Iran diplomatically and economically.
Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash described Iran’s actions as a “miscalculation.”
“The Iranian aggression against the Gulf states was a miscalculation and it isolated Iran at a critical juncture. Your war is not with your neighbours,” Gargash said.
Tehran has reportedly targeted several Gulf countries, including the UAE, in retaliation for what it termed a “major operation” conducted by Washington and Tel Aviv.
The growing instability has significantly disrupted air travel, with airports in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha suspending or restricting operations amid security concerns.
State media reported that President Pezeshkian will oversee governance during the transitional period, working alongside two senior officials as part of a constitutional council activated in the event of the Supreme Leader’s death.
The unfolding developments have raised international concerns about the possibility of a wider Middle East conflict, as global powers closely monitor the rapidly evolving situation.
