Iran has initiated 40 days of mourning following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media.
Saturday's strikes also killed Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and top security officials, marking one of the most significant blows to Iran's leadership since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing as "a great crime" and declared seven days of public holidays in addition to the mourning period.
In Tehran, people took to the streets after news of Khamenei's death. Mourning ceremonies are expected to occur amid continuing bombardment across the country.
Protests denouncing the killing were reported in Shiraz, Yasuj, and Lorestan. Iranian state television aired footage of supporters mourning at the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.
Neighboring Iraq declared three days of mourning, with protesters clashing with security forces in Baghdad's Green Zone. In Karachi, Pakistan, demonstrators smashed windows and set fire to the US consulate.
However, celebrations were also reported in Iran, with Reuters citing witnesses of street gatherings in Tehran, Karaj, and Isfahan.
The official IRNA news agency reported that a three-person council comprising the president, chief justice, and a jurist from the Guardian Council will temporarily assume leadership until a new supreme leader is elected.
Khamenei assumed leadership in 1989 after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and strengthened Iran's military and paramilitary apparatus.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps vowed revenge and said it launched strikes on 27 US bases in the region and Israeli military facilities in Tel Aviv.
Explosions continue to be reported in Qatar and the UAE, with security alerts in place across the region. US President Donald Trump warned Iran of an unprecedented response if it retaliates.
Iran's retaliatory attacks since Saturday have targeted Israeli and US assets in Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq.
Experts suggest the US may have made a "big mistake" by killing Khamenei. Iranian state media reported at least 201 deaths in the joint US-Israeli attacks.
Source: www.aljazeera.com