Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 1: The Embassy of Iran in India lowered its national flag to half-mast following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israel military strike.
Khamenei’s death, described as a watershed moment in Iran’s 46-year Shia-theocratic system, has intensified tensions across the Middle East. Tehran’s immediate response has reportedly ignited fresh hostilities in several parts of the region, raising fears of broader instability.
In a statement shared on X, the Iranian Embassy conveyed profound grief over the assassination, extending condolences to Imam Mahdi, the global Muslim community, the people of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and supporters worldwide. The mission squarely blamed the United States and Israel for the attack, cautioning that both nations would bear responsibility for what it termed the “grave consequences” of their actions. The Embassy affirmed that Iran would press ahead with strength and resolve, ensuring that governance and national affairs continue uninterrupted.
Calling for international solidarity, the Embassy urged independent and freedom-seeking governments to condemn what it labeled a blatant act of aggression and not remain silent in the face of perceived lawlessness.
Meanwhile, Iran’s powerful military arm, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, issued a strongly worded warning after state television confirmed Khamenei’s death. In a statement posted on its official Telegram channel, the IRGC pledged severe retribution against those responsible, describing its forthcoming action as potentially the “most ferocious offensive operation in history” directed at the US and Israel. It asserted that Iran’s armed forces, alongside the Basij militia, would continue defending the nation and uphold Khamenei’s legacy against both internal and external threats.
The Iranian Cabinet echoed this stance, declaring that the “great crime will never go unanswered.”
The announcement of Khamenei’s death was made by US President Donald Trump, who stated on Truth Social that the 86-year-old cleric had been eliminated through advanced intelligence coordination with Israel. Trump claimed that despite any precautionary measures, neither Khamenei nor other senior figures targeted in the strike were able to evade highly sophisticated surveillance and tracking systems.