On the 28th (local time), U.S. President Donald Trump said via social media that he had succeeded in killing Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

Trump said, “Khamenei, one of the most vicious figures in history, is dead,” adding, “This is justice not only for the people of Iran, but also for the great Americans who were killed or maimed by Khamenei and his bloodthirsty gang of thugs, as well as people in many countries around the world.”

He claimed that Khamenei “could not evade our intelligence capabilities, which worked in close coordination with Israel, and our highly sophisticated tracking systems,” asserting that “other Iranian leaders were equally helpless.”

President Trump appealed, stating, “Now is the greatest opportunity for the people of Iran to take back their country,” and, “We do not wish to fight any longer with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian military, or other security·police organizations.” He continued, “We hear that they, too, are seeking immunity,” and warned, “If they surrender now, they can obtain immunity, but later there will be only death!”

He emphasized, “Hopefully the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the police will peacefully join Iran’s patriotic forces, cooperate as a single unit, and help restore the greatness that the country rightly deserves.”

He stated, “As a result of our attack, not only did Khamenei die, but within a single day the country was heavily damaged and devastated,” adding, “Our powerful and precise bombardment will continue throughout this week, and if necessary beyond, without interruption, until our objective of achieving peace across the Middle East, and indeed the world, is fulfilled.”

The Iranian government has yet to issue an official position, but Khamenei’s official X account posted an image filled with Shiite religious symbols. The image depicts the figure of a cleric holding a burning sword, with ‘Hyder’(Hyder), a title of Imam Ali, written on it, which the New York Times (NYT) reported is a battle cry that Shiite Muslims shout in wartime.