By Peter Omopo
Scenes of celebration were reported in several parts of Tehran following unconfirmed reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Videos verified by AFP showed residents cheering, clapping, playing music and honking car horns late Saturday night. Fireworks were also seen in footage shared on social media, while witnesses said loud cheers and whistles echoed across parts of the capital.
The celebrations reportedly began shortly after 11 pm local time, even before US President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that Khamenei was dead, describing him as “one of the most evil people in history.”
There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities regarding the reported death.
According to multiple witnesses and audio recordings cited by AFP, residents took to their windows to applaud and play loud music as news of the development spread. However, social media posts indicated that large crowds had not yet gathered en masse in the streets at the time the videos were recorded.
The reported celebrations come amid heightened tensions following a large-scale attack by the United States and Israel on Iran, which reportedly killed more than 200 people. Tehran subsequently launched retaliatory missile strikes across parts of the Middle East.
The reaction in Tehran follows months of unrest in Iran. Protests that began in December over worsening economic conditions in the sanctions-hit country evolved into nationwide demonstrations in early January, posing one of the most significant challenges to the country’s leadership in recent years.
The unrest triggered a violent crackdown. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has reported more than 7,000 deaths, cautioning that the actual toll may be higher. Iranian officials have acknowledged over 3,000 deaths but attributed the violence to what they described as terrorist acts fueled by the United States and Israel.
During the protests, authorities attempted to balance recognition of economic grievances with condemnation of what they termed rioters.
