Story by Gavin Blackburn/Euronews
The 86-year-old Khamenei has no known successor and his death is almost certain to create a leadership vacuum in Iran, given that he had final say on all major policies.
In retaliation, Iran initially targeted US military assets in all countries across the Gulf region except Oman.
And by Saturday evening, Iranian state TV was reporting the deaths of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and around 40 other senior officials.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed to unleash “the most devastating offensive operation” against US bases and Israel.
Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani said the transition process following the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will begin on Sunday.
“An interim leadership council will soon be formed. The president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council will assume responsibility until the election of the next leader,” said Larijani, the head of Iran’s top security body, the Supreme National Security Council, who was an adviser to Khamenei.
“This council will be established as soon as possible. We are working to form it as early as today,” he said in an interview broadcast by state TV.
Some airports across the Middle East remained closed on Sunday as the conflict between Israel, the US and Iran moved into its second day.
Emirates Airlines has suspended all flights to and from Dubai until at least Sunday afternoon.
The Qatar airport is closed until at least Monday morning, according to Qatar Airways.
Israeli airspace also remains closed.
The closures have stranded tens of thousands of travelers around the world.
