CAIRO, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Iranian authorities on Sunday confirmed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes the previous day and declared 40 days of national mourning.
Khamenei was one of the longest-serving leaders in the Middle East, and his death was expected to cast a long shadow over Iran and the broader region.
Here's a quick overview of Khamenei's killing.
Who was Khamenei?
-- Khamenei was born in 1939 in the Iranian holy city of Mashhad. He received Islamic education in his early years and studied at the Qom Seminary under Ruhollah Khomeini, who would later lead the Islamic Revolution. During the turbulent 1960s and 1970s, Khamenei was arrested six times for his involvement in anti-government activities.
-- In June 1981, Khamenei, then-presidential candidate, survived an assassination attempt during a speech, which left his right arm permanently paralyzed. In October of the same year, he was elected President of Iran and served two terms until 1989. As president, he led the country through the Iran-Iraq War.
-- In June 1989, following Khomeini's death, Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader. He advocated for the development of Iran's defense and nuclear programs and supported the "Resistance Front" in multiple Middle Eastern countries to expand Iran's geopolitical influence.
How did Khamenei die?
-- On Saturday, after sending multiple military threats, the United States and Israel initiated a large-scale attack on Iran's military facilities and high-ranking officials, which destroyed Khamenei's compound.
-- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening said in a video statement that there were "increasing signs" that Khamenei was "gone." Multiple Israeli media outlets cited senior Israeli officials as saying that Khamenei was killed and his body had been discovered.
-- In a post on social media platform Truth Social, U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Khamenei "is dead."
-- On Sunday, the Iranian cabinet issued a statement confirming that the Iranian leader was killed in a "brutal attack by the criminal U.S. government and the sinister Israeli regime," praising Khamenei for having led the country "sagaciously" for more than 37 years.
-- Iranian media reported the U.S.-Israeli attack also resulted in the deaths of Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and one of his daughters-in-law.
Who will take over?
-- Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on Sunday that the country will form an interim council later in the day to assume the leadership responsibilities until the selection of a new leader.
-- Later on Sunday, Iran announced the formation of a three-member transitional council to handle the state duties. Iran's Expediency Discernment Council said it has selected Alireza Arafi, a jurist from the country's Constitutional Council, as a member of the country's interim leadership council. The interim leadership council also comprises Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei.
-- In an interview with Al Jazeera, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said a new supreme leader will be chosen in "one or two days." ■
