U.S. President Donald Trump said he killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei before Khamenei could attack him. Trump made the statement in an interview with ABC News, saying Iran had tried twice to target him but he struck first. His remarks are being linked to an alleged 2024 assassination attempt against him involving Iran.

Iranian media confirmed that Khamenei was killed in recent U.S. and Israeli strikes that began on Saturday, February 28. The attacks reportedly caused extensive damage in Iran. Semi-official news agencies Tasnim and Fars confirmed Khamenei’s death on Sunday, March 1.

Following the death, Iran’s government declared seven days of public holiday and forty days of national mourning, marking a significant moment of political and regional tension.