Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

The commander-in-chief of Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Mohammad Pakpour, and the secretary of Iran’s Defence Council, Ali Shamkhani, have been killed in US and Israel strikes on Iran, official IRNA news agency announced.

Earlier, the Israel Defence Forces had announced the names of seven members of Iran’s security leadership, including both Pakpour and Shamkhani, which they claimed had died.

Mohammad Pakpour was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the IRGC after his predecessor was killed during the 12-day Iran-Israel war back in June 2025. He was previously the commander of the IRGC’s Ground Forces.

Shamkhani, who was also a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader, was injured during the 12-day war.

Both Pakpour and Shamkhani had been sanctioned by the US Treasury Department.

Four people have been injured following an incident at Dubai International Airport, the country's government says.

Emergency response teams "have been activated immediately", and the incident is being handled in coordination with the relevant authorities", adding that medical care was provided to those injured.

Debris from a drone intercepted by Dubai's military caused a fire at one of the berths of Jebel Ali Port, a known frequent stop for US Navy ships in the Gulf, the government said. "Dubai Civil Defense teams immediately responded to handle the fire." No injuries were reported.

In a separate incident at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport, debris from an intercepted drone killed one person, an Asian national, and injured seven others, the government said.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

Many people in Iran are still sleeping or just waking up, but I have asked one person in Tehran about how they feel about Khamenei’s death.

“I can’t believe it. It’s like when they give you such a good news that you don’t even don’t know what to do," they tell me.

"I couldn’t sleep all night, I’m just waiting to start the first day without Khamenei in it. I think the Middle East has become a better place.

"Even [the] world has become a better place now.”

Here is a selection of photos from inside Iran as we're fast approaching 24 hours since Israel and the US started hitting multiple targets in the country.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP via Getty Image

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Mamlekate/X

Image source, IRINN

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

This is a defining moment in the turbulent history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

But its most powerful clerics and commanders have been preparing for it.

Minds were concentrated during the 12-day war last June. On the first night alone, in the first wave of attacks, Israel was able to assassinate nine nuclear scientists, and a number of security chiefs. And in the days that followed, more senior scientists and at least 30 leading commanders were killed.

It was made clear that the Ayatollah could also be in their sights.

It was reported then that Khamenei, who spent the war in his special bunker, was drawing up lists of security officials who could immediately step into place to avoid any vacuum in the top echelons.

As Khamenei's time at the helm is brought to a sudden end, questions will turn to his successor and whether a change at the top could also signal a shift in direction for the 47-year-old Islamic republic.

You can read more about what led up to this extraordinary moment and what could follow here.

Iran has announced its president, the head of the judiciary, and one of the jurists of the Guardian Council - a powerful body - will oversee the transition period following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

As our reporter explained earlier, the Assembly of Leadership Experts - a body of clerics - will now turn to appointing Khamenei's successor, something the constitution says must occur as soon as possible. But quickly assembling everyone while Iran is under attack by the United States and Israel may prove difficult for safety reasons.

Khamenei himself was appointed the very same day Ruhollah Ayatollah Khomeini died.

At least 133 Iranian civilians have been killed and 200 injured in the US-Israeli attacks on the country, which began on Saturday, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency - a Washington-based Iranian rights group.

The findings were based on a preliminary report, which said at least 58 attacks were recorded across 18 provinces, with Tehran recording the highest number of incidents.

The group also noted military casualties, damage to infrastructure and educational centres, and severe internet disruptions.

Image source, Supplied

The sun is rising over Tehran now, where explosions have continued to be heard over the last few hours.

The Iranian capital bore the brunt of dozens of deadly US-Israeli strikes on Saturday, and Trump has warned the bombing will continue despite the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

About an hour ago, US Central Command posted a clip on X, external showing US missiles launching and exploding into their targets, saying: "CENTCOM is now delivering swift and decisive action as directed".

The Israeli Defence Forces a short while ago also said it has launched another wave of strikes from dozens of fighter jets, aimed at Iranian missile supplies and defence systems.

"The Israeli Air Force has struck more than 30 targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime across Iran, including aerial defense systems, missile launchers, regime targets, and military command centers," the IDF said in its latest update.

Iran's state media has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed, after attacks across Iran by Israel and the US, which began on Saturday morning (local time).

Here is what you need to know.

• A statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council, read out by several state broadcast channels, confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei was killed in his office early on Saturday morning.
• One presenter, through tears, said the country will enter 40 days of mourning. The Assembly of Leadership Experts - a council of clerics - is expected to appoint a successor as soon as possible.
• More than 200 people have been killed during the strikes, according to the Red Crescent, and the BBC's media partner, CBS News, has reported around 40 Iranian officials are dead.
• In response, Iran has launched attacks throughout the Middle East, on US allies and where the US has military bases, including in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
• The UK is taking part in "co-ordinated regional defensive operations" to protect British people and regional partners, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said.
• President Donald Trump earlier said Khamenei was "one of the most evil people in history" and that his death marked "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country".
• He said the US would continue bombing Iran - with explosions still ringing out across its capital Tehran.
• The US cannot declare war without congressional approval - and this operation has divided lawmakers, largely along party lines. The United Nations has also said the military operation undermines peace in the region.

We've just got a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, warning they will attack US bases and Israel.

"The most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces will begin toward the occupied territories and American terrorist bases in just moments," it says.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

More details from that statement read out by presenters on state TV channels earlier.

Iran's Supreme National Security Council said Ayatollah Khamenei was killed early Saturday morning at his office “while he was carrying out tasks”.

Using satellite imagery, BBC Verify earlier confirmed significant damage to parts of the Leadership House compound, which is Khamenei's office in Tehran.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Tasnim News Agency has said that Khamenei’s death at his office is proof that reports that he was hiding out were the “enemy’s psychological warfare”.

Behrang Tajdin
BBC Persian

According to the constitution, Khamenei's successor must be selected by the same body that chose him: the Assembly of Leadership Experts.

This is a body of 88 clerics that - on paper - are voted in by people once every eight years, but in reality only the clerics most loyal to the Islamic Republic are allowed to stand for it. This is why the majority of the current Assembly members are clerics as hardline as Ayatollah Khamenei.

The constitution says these clerics must select the new Supreme Leader as soon as possible - but quickly assembling everyone, while Iran is under attack by the United States and Israel, may prove difficult for safety reasons.

In the meantime, the president, the head of judiciary and a cleric member of the powerful Guardian Council would usually assume the leader's responsibilities.

Image source, Getty Images

Born in the north-eastern city of Mashhad in 1939, the son of a religious scholar, Ali Khamenei joined the religious opposition movement of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1962.

After the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Ali Khamenei became deputy defence minister and helped organise the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).

When Khomeini died in June 1989, the Assembly of Experts - a council of clerics - chose Ali Khamenei to be the new supreme leader, changing the constitution to allow him to take charge even though he had not achieved the required rank among Shia clerics.

Ayatollah Khamenei has maintained a firm grip on Iran's politics and its armed forces ever since, suppressing challenges to the ruling system, sometimes violently.

He also consistently taken hard-line stances on external matters, including the ongoing confrontation with the United States, of whom he remained suspicious. He had also repeatedly called for the elimination of the State of Israel - publicly questioning whether the Holocaust occurred.

There have been seven presidents of Iran to serve during the rule of Khamenei, who has six children.

Ghoncheh Habibiazad
Senior reporter, BBC Persian

As we just reported, Iran's state TV has announced 40 days of public mourning and seven days of public holiday over the death of Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader.

At the moment, Iran's state TV news channel IRINN is showing photos of Khamenei with recital of Quran in the background, with a black banner on the top left corner.

The presenter previously read a statement by Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) officially confirming the death of Khamenei, blaming the US and Israel for his death. The statement said that Khamenei's "martyrdom" will be the beginning of "an uprising in the fight against the oppressors".

Earlier, state media said that Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law and grandchild were also killed in the attacks.

According to the Fars News Agency, which is affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, there are reports that one of Khamenei's daughters-in-law has been killed as well.

Image source, IRINN

With a statement from Iran's Supreme National Security Council, several state media outlets in Iran have confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei's death.

US President Donald Trump hours earlier said the Supreme Leader had been killed during a joint attack with Israel on several locations across Iran.

In the statement, there was no mention of how the 86-year-old died, nor of who might take over as leader.

Our colleagues are working on translating and bringing you the top lines of that address.

In a tearful address, one state TV presenter announcing Khamenei's death said the country will enter 40 days of mourning.

Iranian state TV has just confirmed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead.

We'll bring you more information as it comes.

More from the UN Security Council's emergency meeting earlier.

China's envoy Fu Cong said the country is deeply concerned by strikes on Iran by the US and Israel, expressing concern about reports of civilian casualties.

He called for an immediate cessation of military action in the region to prevent further escalation.

"At all times, the red line for protecting civilians in armed conflict must not be crossed, and the indiscriminate use of force is unacceptable," he said, calling on all parties to fulfill their obligations under international law and humanitarian law.

China is ready to work with the international community to unite efforts to promote peace and stability in the Middle East as soon as possible, he added.

Bernd Debusmann Jr
Traveling with the President

While the traveling press pool has not seen Donald Trump today, the US President has been busy calling various American networks throughout the course of the day.

In a call with Bob Costa of CBS - the BBC's US partner - Trump said that the US is "doing well" so far in the strikes, and that a diplomatic solution remains "easily" within reach.

"Much easier now than it was a day ago, obviously, because they are getting beaten up badly," he added.

The US has been pressuring Iran to agree to conditions on its nuclear programme, threatening military action when the latest round of talks ended this week without a deal.

Trump says Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed in the attack - though Iranian officials are yet to confirm this. On the call, Trump declined to comment on who he believes is leading Iran.

However, he said he has "good candidates" in mind he would like to see in charge.