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U.S., Israel continue attacking Iran as Iranian president vows to avenge supreme leader's killing

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U.S., Israel continue attacking Iran as Iranian president vows to avenge supreme leader's killing

2026-03-01 19:26 Last Updated At:22:57

The United States and Israel are continuing their strikes against Iran, as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has vowed to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran has begun 40 days of mourning after Khamenei was killed in the U.S.-Israel airstrikes on Saturday.

On Sunday, explosions were heard near central Tehran, with large plumes of smoke seen rising from several buildings, and fighter jets were also heard hovering overhead, according to a China Media Group (CMG) crew reporting from the Iranian capital.

The U.S. and Israel has launched their coordinated airstrikes against targets across Iran since Saturday, resulting in heavy causalities, many of them innocent civilians.

Iranian state media on Sunday confirmed the killing of Khamenei during Saturday's attacks.

According to the reports, Khamenei was killed when attending a meeting of the country's defense council. Also killed were chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, secretary of the defense council, and the defense minister.

In response, Iran has also continued its counterattacks against both U.S. and Israeli targets, including launching a number of drone strikes and six rounds of missile attacks so far.

Iranian President Pezeshkian released a statement on Sunday, describing Supreme Leader Khamenei's killing a major challenge against the Muslim world by the U.S. and Israel.

Iran considers that it is its duty and legitimate right to hold the perpetrators and masterminds behind Khamenei's death accountable, and will take necessary measures in response, said Pezeshkian, who also called on all Iranians in the country to stay united.

On the streets of Tehran, no traffic congestions were seen during morning rush hours on Sunday, and a local grocery store was well-stocked with daily essentials.

U.S., Israel continue attacking Iran as Iranian president vows to avenge supreme leader's killing

U.S., Israel continue attacking Iran as Iranian president vows to avenge supreme leader's killing

Iranians have gathered at Tehran's Enghelab Square on Sunday in support of the government after the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli attacks on Saturday.

The Iranian government announced a 40-day mourning period after the report of the leader's death.

"It is our duty as a people to preserve calm and unity, and we must be strong — and we are. Our sorrow is for ourselves, because the Leader has achieved his wish: martyrdom on this path. The armed forces must respond to this act in the most forceful and powerful way possible and avenge this blood," said Minoo, a protester.

"We are in deep mourning, but this heavy grief does not mean we have become weak. Rather, it makes us, the people, more resilient in the face of Iran's enemies," said Fatemeh, another protester.

"The Supreme Leader was like a father to us, and it feels as though we have lost our own father. We call on the armed forces to give a decisive response to this aggression," said Pooya, a local resident.

On Saturday morning, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region.

Several Iranian senior officials, including Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, Secretary of the Defense Council Ali Shamkhani, and Mohammad Pakpour, chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, were also killed in the strike.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society said that the strikes hit at least 24 of Iran's 31 provinces, with 201 deaths and 747 injuries reported so far.

Iranians mourn supreme leader's death, vow solidarity

Iranians mourn supreme leader's death, vow solidarity

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