What Do We Know About How Khamenei Was Killed?

The anniversary of the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic, was accompanied this year by street concerts, rejoicing, and celebrations, contrary to the past, when the Islamic Republic always attempted to foster a mournful atmosphere. However, at the venue where the ceremony was being held, the chair of Ali Khamenei, the second leader of the Islamic Republic, which was positioned on the platform facing the courtyard, stood empty - a symbol of a leader who was killed on the opening day of the US and Israeli war against Iran, and whose successor has not yet been able to occupy his seat.

Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28 in the Supreme Leader's residence, the Beit, by bombs dropped from Israeli and American aircraft. Yet the circumstances of his death remain unclear to many officials in the country. Hossein Simaee Sarraf, the Minister of Science, states: "The martyrdom of the Leader was a wound that has not yet cooled, and therefore we must offer our condolences to one another in every gathering." Similarly, Mohammad Mokhber, an advisor to the slain leader, believes: "The grief over the martyred Leader will never cool in the hearts of the people."

Thus far, no government official has precisely declared how his death unfolded, what factors came together, or what his exact condition was at the time of death. Rather, they have attempted to turn him and his manner of death into a heroic narrative by emphasizing that he was inside his official residence. Despite this, scattered and more or less overlooked remarks exist amid the onslaught of Iranian news that narrate the day of Khamenei's death and provide first-hand details, such as the account by Abbas Araghchi.

How Was Ali Khamenei Killed?

Recently, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi shed light on the manner of his death and addressed rumors that had previously circulated regarding his presence at the residence during the attack. In an interview with the Al-Mayadeen network, he explained: "At the moment of his martyrdom, I was in his office. That is, at the precise moment the attack occurred, I was present in that very office, the office of His Eminence. You may recall that on Thursday, we had negotiations in Geneva; on Friday, I returned to Tehran, and on Saturday, this event took place. On Saturday at 9:00 AM, I went to his office for an appointment with one of the office officials to report on the Geneva negotiations and also to discuss the atmosphere that had emerged since Friday, which had significantly increased the likelihood of war. The building we were sitting in was targeted, but the section we were in remained intact while another part of the building was destroyed."

Describing what happened, he said: "At the moment of the explosion, I was there. The first question that came to my mind and the first anxiety that arose for me was regarding the condition of His Eminence. I hoped that he was not in his office at that moment, but I guessed that, following his usual work routine, he would be present in the office." He emphasized: "Even though during those days, the Americans had established a massive military deployment around us and the probability of war was high, the spirit of the martyred Leader was such that he would not go to a shelter and remained present in his office." He explained: "During those first one or two days, I was extremely anxious about what had happened to him, until the news of his martyrdom was confirmed."

Before Araghchi's remarks, rescue teams had also given a brief account of the incident. Amir-Hossein Mir-Mohammad Sadeghi, the Deputy for Recruitment and Organization of the Red Crescent Volunteers Organization, explained in mid-May that during the bombardment, "we were sitting outside the residence, and due to the security atmosphere, we had not brought mobile phones." Regarding those who were present there, he said: "On the first day of the attack on the residence, I saw Ali Larijani and [Ali Akbar] Salehi. Friends said they had also seen Mr. Araghchi, though I did not see him myself. There were several others as well who emerged from the location covered in dust and debris."

However, the individuals who located the Iranian leader were a group of firefighters. Jalal Maleki, the fire department spokesperson, is the one who says he pulled the body of the Leader of the Islamic Republic from beneath the rubble. He explained that he could not believe the Leader was there, because it had been said of him that "he possesses palaces and secure locations." Yet his notable remark adds to the existing accounts regarding the bombardment of the residence; he stated that "the room next to the Leader's house" was the location where his grandchild was killed, noting that the child had been burned.

Meanwhile, only two descriptions regarding the physical condition of Ali Khamenei have been published so far. Hossein Radanpour, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Health, explained in a conference that as a result of the attack, "nothing specific" happened to "Mojtaba Khamenei," the new leader of the Islamic Republic, and even the wounds had not disfigured his "face and appearance." However, he explained that Mojtaba "did not suffer any dismemberment like the martyred Imam," practically revealing that the previous leader of the Islamic Republic had perished due to dismemberment.

Another description exists in the first message attributed to his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, who wrote: "I had the honor of visiting his body after his martyrdom; what I saw was a mountain of fortitude, and I heard that he had clenched the fist of his healthy hand."

This contradictory statement, which blends direct sight with hearsay, provides no precise image of the moment of death. Yet this very image caused the clenched fist to become a symbol for the Islamic Republic, to the extent that they intend to install a statue of "the clenched fist of the martyred Leader of the Revolution" in Enghelab Square.

It was on March 3, however, that the Israeli military spokesperson announced that dozens of air force fighter jets had targeted the Supreme Leader's residence and bombarded governmental and security buildings. In confirmation of these statements, media outlets close to the government published a video declaring: "In addition to cruise missiles, the enemy carried out a bombardment of this perimeter."

Ali Nikzad, a member of parliament, said in explaining the bombs: "I was told that the missiles striking the location of the residence were not bunker-busters but rather cruise missiles. The world must know that our Leader was not in a basement or a shelter, but was busy handling daily and current affairs." He stated that on Saturday, he was in his office and heard the sound of the explosion at the residence from there, noting: "After about an hour, it became certain for us that His Eminence had attained martyrdom."

How the News of His Death Broke

On the morning of February 28, a satellite image of the Supreme Leader’s residence was published. The image showed that the residence had been heavily bombarded. Shortly after, a video was released showing the site of the explosion within the perimeter, with thick dust and smoke rising over the area. One of the neighborhood's residents reported the following after the strike: "We saw Agha Sayyid Masoud Khamenei coming out of his office. It was as if he had just realized what disaster had befallen his family; he was extremely frantic. He came out of his office, completely unable to walk. He sat on the steps of his department for a moment. My husband had also gone to help. They took hold of Masoud's arms, lifted his hip, and put him into a Pride car that was parked on the other side."

Despite these unfolding scenes and the fact that Araghchi himself was present during the incident, he said in an interview a few hours later: "One or two commanders have been lost, which is not a major problem." Speaking to NBC Television, he emphasized: "As far as I am aware, the Supreme Leader, the President, and all high-ranking officials are alive and well; everything is fine."

Various members of parliament maintained the same approach at that moment, speaking of the Leader being in good health. For instance, Hamid Rasaee, a member of parliament, wrote on the Virasty platform: "I write this with accurate information: Imam Khamenei is in complete health and, just like during the 12-day war, is currently commanding the war against global arrogance and defending the honorable nation of Iran."

During those same hours, the IRGC also issued a statement. The text read: "Trump has a long history of publishing false and fabricated news. Previous examples of this behavior include his claim regarding the fall of the city of Mashhad, which was later proven to be entirely baseless and merely a media stunt." However, it was a few hours later that the state broadcaster (IRIB) announced his death, explaining: "At the moment of his martyrdom, the Leader of the Revolution was performing his assigned duties and was present at his workplace."

Subsequently, the IRGC stated in another announcement: "Martyrdom at the hands of the most wicked terrorists and executioners of humanity and civilization is a sign of the legitimacy of this great leader and the acceptance of his sincere service."

Explaining how the decision to announce the death was made, Nikzad explained: "It was 1:00 AM during a meeting when they reached the conclusion that on March 1, coinciding with the 11th of the holy month of Ramadan, this news should be brought to the attention of the honorable nation of Iran through the IRIB before the morning call to prayer." He emphasized: "The people had been orphaned. The martyrdom of our Leader was a matter that struck at our religious zeal."

Although all accounts published to date emphasize the heroic aspects of the slain leader, Mehdi Kharatian, a political analyst, explained in a video program: "Based on complex security protocols, the Leader of the Revolution was constantly on the move and would visit his office to hold meetings. His place of residence was also continuously changing, and I cannot interpret his killing as anything other than the result of an infiltration."

Blood Avenging and Retaliation

Following the announcement of Khamenei's death, Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly called for revenge against their enemies. Alireza Panahian, a religious speaker, addressed officials at a street rally, saying: "Do not wait; destroy them." He added, "God is my witness, if you do not take revenge for the Leader from the 'vile enemy,' the security of our future leaders will be compromised." He emphasized that if the enemy calls for a ceasefire, officials must not accept it, asserting that the unified slogan of our officials must be: "Revenge, revenge."

Various Shia Marjas, or clerical authorities, also endorsed this retaliation. Hossein Noori-Hamedani, one of the Marjas in Qom, had issued a decree during the 12-day war, which he repeated once more on March 1 in response to the presidium of the assembly of representatives of scholars and clerics of the Qom Seminary, stating: "It is an obligation (Farz) upon all Muslims anywhere in the world to be the avengers of the Leader's blood." The head of his office stated that it is mandatory (Vajib) upon Muslims that revenge for this blood must be taken.

Other officials framed this revenge around the Islamic concept of Qisas, or retribution in kind. Ali Shirazi, the head of the Political-Ideological Organization of the Law Enforcement Force, said: "We remain committed to our pledge and the demand for severe revenge against the perpetrators of our Leader's martyrdom." He also stressed: "Responsible institutions must prioritize the legal and international pursuit of this crime and publicly execute the divine sentence for the killers of the martyred Imam."

However, a portion of what is being demanded as revenge is focused on the concept of blood avenging. The Friday prayer leader of Karaj stated: "The oppressed blood of the martyred Imam led to the awakening of the people and drew attention to truth and the pursuit of justice, not only within our own society but also among other nations." He spoke of the necessity of blood avenging for the Leader, emphasizing that the realization of this blood avenging "will be possible through the eradication of the roots of oppression and tyranny."