In a poignant moment on Iranian television, a news anchor was visibly emotional while announcing the passing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a series of devastating airstrikes in Iran.
During the official broadcast, the anchor struggled to hold back tears as he delivered a statement from the National Supreme Council confirming the death of the 86-year-old Khamenei.
Khamenei’s life was tragically cut short on Saturday due to airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel.
In a video shared on social media platform X, the tearful anchor declared, “God is great. God is great. With deep sorrow, it is announced to the nation of Iran that Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred today in a joint criminal attack by the United States and the Zionist regime.”
The anchor continued with a tribute to Khamenei, describing him as a deeply respected religious leader whose “long dream of martyrdom became true,” as reported by The New York Times.
The announcement also highlighted the significance of Khamenei’s death occurring during the sacred month of Ramadan.
As he read from the paper in front of him, he began to get choked up before sobbing into his hand and holding his head as he composed himself on air.
From behind the camera, others were heard to be seemingly crying along with the anchor, the clip showed.
An Iranian news anchor broke down in tears as he announced the official passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Khamenei, 86, was confirmed to have died on Saturday after an airstrike on his compound in Tehran
The anchor read aloud the statement that described Khamenei as a revered religious Islamic figure whose ‘long dream of martyrdom became true’
According to the statement, Iranians were said to be mourning the leader’s death but enemies of the country should note that ‘martyrdom will spark a massive uprising in the fight against oppressors,’ the outlet reported.
The anchor tearfully made his way through the broadcast before breaking down in tears a second time.
The broadcast announced the official 40-day mourning period, as well as a seven-day national holiday in the wake of Khamenei’s death.
Khamenei’s compound in Tehran was seen on satellite footage billowing with smoke after it was targeted in the attacks.
His body was found under the rubble of his compound. Four of his family members, and two of his senior military commanders, were also killed in the strikes.
Iranian state media officially announced the leader’s death early on Sunday. ‘To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return,’ the news agency said, according to the New York Times.
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The broadcast announced the official 40-day mourning period, as well as a seven-day national holiday in the wake of Khamenei’s death
His wife, Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, children and many grandchildren were believed to have been living with him at the compound, the BBC reported.
The couple had six children: four sons, Massoud, Mojtaba, Mostafa and Meysam, and two daughters, Bushra and Hoda, according to the Times.
The president had earlier confirmed the Supreme Leader’s death in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, adding that ‘one of the most evil people in History, is dead.’
‘This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS,’ Trump wrote.
‘He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.’
