Tehran confirms Khamenei’s killing

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has denounced Khamenei’s killing “as a great crime” and promised to respond, according to a statement from his office.

“This great crime will never remain unanswered and will turn a new page in the history of the Islamic world and Shiism. The pure blood of this high-ranking leader will flow like a roaring spring and will eradicate American-Zionist oppression and crime,” it said.

“This time too, with all our strength and determination, with the support of the Islamic nation and the free people of the world, we will make the perpetrators and commanders of this great crime regret it,” it added.

Pezeshkian also declared seven days of public holidays in addition to the 40 days of mourning.

 The official IRNA news agency is reporting that a three-person council, consisting of the country’s president, the chief of the judiciary, and one of the jurists of the Guardian Council, will temporarily assume all leadership duties in the country.