Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, who passed away. [Photo: Reuters/IRNA Yonhap News]

The Iranian government officially confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Khamenei (86) on the 1st (local time).

Upon announcing Ayatollah Khamenei's death, the Iranian government declared a 40-day national mourning period and a one-week public holiday.

Iran's state broadcaster Press TV and the state news agency IRNA also reported on the same day, stating, "Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Revolution, was martyred in attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran."

An anchor on Iran's state broadcaster sobbed while delivering the news of Ayatollah Khamenei's passing.

The exact time of his death is unknown, but it appears he died in bombings by the United States and Israel the previous day. US media outlets released satellite images showing the destruction of a security zone in northern Tehran, where Ayatollah Khamenei primarily resided, due to the bombing.

Local media reported that he died in his Tehran office.

The Mehr news agency reported, "At the moment of his martyrdom, Ayatollah Khamenei was defending his office and carrying out his assigned duties. The cowardly attack occurred on Saturday morning (February 28th)."

It added, "Media outlets colluding with the Zionist regime (Israel) repeatedly claimed he was in a secret location fearing assassination. His martyrdom in his office once again proves that the psychological warfare of the enemies is fabricated, while also demonstrating that he always stood with the people, at the forefront of confronting arrogant powers (the West) with responsibility and indomitable courage."