Iranians living in North America took to the streets, expressing jubilation and playing festive music after reports surfaced claiming the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to verified video footage obtained by AFP.
Although Iranian authorities have not confirmed the reports, US President Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, declaring, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.”
Footage shared on Telegram, verified by AFP, showed people cheering, clapping, honking car horns, and playing music in celebration. Witnesses said the initial festivities began shortly after 11 p.m. (1930 GMT), even before Trump’s statement, as news of Khamenei’s alleged death circulated.
In Tehran, residents reportedly reacted from their windows with applause and loud music, accompanied by whistles and fireworks captured in videos circulated online. However, mass gatherings in the streets were not yet observed at that early stage.
The celebrations come against a backdrop of widespread fear following a brutal crackdown on anti-government protests last month. Demonstrations, which began in December over worsening economic conditions, escalated into nationwide unrest by early January, challenging Iran’s leadership on an unprecedented scale.
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The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has documented over 7,000 fatalities during the unrest, cautioning that the actual death toll could be significantly higher. Iranian authorities acknowledge more than 3,000 deaths, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts” allegedly influenced by the United States and Israel.
During the protests, the Iranian government attempted to balance acknowledgment of economic grievances with condemnation of what it termed “rioters,” amid a tense and volatile environment.