"We Have Pledged Our Allegiance to Allah' - X post from Khamenei’s account after Trump declares him dead

A brief and symbolic message appeared on the official X account associated with Iran’s Supreme Leader shortly after US President Donald Trump claimed that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, had been killed in a joint American-Israeli strike.

The Persian post read: “Be nām-e nāmi-ye Heydar, alayhis-salām,” which translates to “In the exalted name of Haidar (peace be upon him).” Haidar is another name for Imam Ali, the first Shia Imam and a deeply revered figure in Shia Islam. The message offered no direct reference to the reported strike or to Trump’s statement, but its timing drew immediate attention.

Trump, posting on his platform Truth Social, declared: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.” He claimed the Iranian leader was located through “highly sophisticated tracking systems” and described the operation as “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.”

Latest message shared on the X account associated with Ali Khamenei quoted a religious line about faith and allegiance. The post read: “Among the believers are the righteous men… We have pledged our allegiance to Allah… among them are those who wait, and they are our substitutes.” The message contains a pledge of loyalty to Allah and refers to believers who remain steadfast, without making any direct reference to current political or military developments.

Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “many signs” suggesting that the 86-year-old cleric was no more. However, Iranian authorities have not formally confirmed Khamenei’s death.

Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani warned that both the United States and Israel would “regret their actions,” promising what he called an “unforgettable lesson” from Iran’s armed forces. Within hours of the reported strike, missiles and drones were launched towards Israel and at US military bases across the Gulf region.

The strikes reportedly began around 09:30 local time in Tehran, with explosions heard near the heavily guarded Leadership House compound linked to Ali Khamenei. Satellite images circulating online showed damaged structures and debris within a one-kilometre radius. Israeli officials later described the operation as a “powerful surprise strike” that destroyed the compound.

Khamenei had led Iran since 1989, succeeding Ruhollah Khomeini. Over nearly four decades in power, he consolidated control over the clerical establishment, judiciary and armed forces, shaping the Islamic Republic’s political and military doctrine.

There is currently no publicly confirmed successor. Under Iran’s constitution, a panel of clerics is tasked with selecting the next supreme leader. However, analysts suggest that in the midst of an armed conflict, authority could temporarily shift to a transitional council or potentially to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

With regional tensions escalating sharply, observers warn that even limited internal divisions could test the stability of the system Khamenei spent decades strengthening.