The strikes, which took place at around 9:40am local time (06:10 GMT) on Saturday, killed Khamenei along with several senior military officials, according to research by six sources. Iran has said it will use 'crushing' force in response, and Iran's army chief warned of a 'decisive, deterrent, and regretful response'. The Revolutionary Guards reportedly launched missiles at central Israel 'in revenge', and an Iranian missile strike on Ramat Gan, Israel killed a man and a woman in their 70s, according to a Magen David Adom spokesperson. An Iranian projectile also landed near Australia's military base in the UAE, causing minor damage but no injuries, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed. Meanwhile, Lebanon's Health Ministry says at least six people were killed and 24 injured in Israeli strikes on Beirut.
Casualties across Iran have mounted rapidly. As of Monday, 787 people had been confirmed killed across Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent. Among the dead are at least 165 schoolgirls and staff killed in a strike on a school in southern Minab city on Saturday, according to research by six sources. Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official, was also killed, Iranian state media reported. The death toll has not been confirmed independently, and figures may rise as rescue operations continue.
Donald Trump told Reuters that Iran was 'making an offer and we'll have to see'.
Diplomatic efforts have been thrown into uncertainty. The US envoy is expected to travel to Islamabad on Saturday, according to major media reports. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi began talks in Islamabad with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistani officials and Iranian state media said. Mediators in Islamabad are pushing for a second round of negotiations between US and Iranian officials after marathon talks stalled in early April, according to research by six sources. However, the status of negotiations is disputed: some sources say a diplomatic deal is 'completely off the table' after the strikes, while others report that mediators are still pushing for talks. Araghchi appears to have come to Pakistan with a comprehensive proposal, according to BBC Persian reporting. Donald Trump told Reuters that Iran was 'making an offer and we'll have to see', while US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said 'we have all the time in the world and we're not anxious for a deal'. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel is 'waiting for the green light from the US' to 'complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty'.
The conflict has also disrupted global oil markets. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains significantly lower than pre-war levels, according to research by six sources. Tehran and Washington have launched separate blockades of the Strait of Hormuz, according to research by six sources. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed Washington does not plan to renew a waiver allowing purchase of Iranian oil at sea. These measures have raised concerns about energy supplies and global economic stability.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said 'we have all the time in the world and we’re not anxious for a deal'.
The timeline of the strikes remains unclear. Sources mention US and Israeli missiles striking Iran's nuclear sites in June 2025, and on Feb. 28, 2026, hundreds of missiles struck multiple sites in Iran as part of 'Operation Epic Fury', according to the U.S. Department of Defense. It is unclear whether these are separate events or the same. The CIA gathered information about a Saturday morning meeting that would include Khamenei and senior military cadre, and shared it with Israel, according to The New York Times citing anonymous sources. The extent of damage to Iran's nuclear program has not been disclosed. The Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran resumed international passenger flights on April 25, according to Iranian state media, suggesting some normalization of civilian life.
Internally, Iran has faced unrest. Erfan Kiani, arrested during anti-government protests, was executed on April 25, according to Mizan news agency. Mass protests in Iran in January were brutally suppressed; HRANA verified over 6,000 protester deaths. The combination of external strikes and internal repression has heightened tensions within the country.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Israel is 'waiting for the green light from the US' to 'complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty'.