Iranian state television on Sunday announced the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

A presenter on state TV confirmed Khamenei’s death at about 5:00 a.m. (0130 GMT), as the channel aired archive footage accompanied by a black banner signifying national mourning.

Khamenei, 86, had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving political leaders in the Middle East.

The announcement came hours after US President Donald Trump claimed that Khamenei had been killed in air strikes. However, prior to the state television broadcast, there had been no official confirmation from Tehran.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in History,” declaring that his death was “not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World.”

The US president said the Iranian leader had been “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems,” and suggested that the development presented Iranians with their “greatest chance” to “take back their country.”

Trump also claimed that elements of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military, and security agencies were unwilling to continue fighting and were seeking immunity.

“As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’” he wrote, adding that military operations would continue.

“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East and, indeed, the world!” Trump posted.

Iranian authorities have yet to provide further details regarding the circumstances surrounding Khamenei’s death.