Hundreds of jubilant Persians took to the streets in cities across the United States on Saturday night after President Donald Trump claimed Iran‘s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in airstrikes.
Celebrations were reported outside the White House in Washington DC and in Iranian-American communities across the country, where expatriates waved Iranian and American flags, blasted music and cheered as news of the reported killing spread.
Footage from downtown Washington DC showed demonstrators gathering near the White House in what appeared to be an impromptu celebration.
Independent reporter Raheem J. Kassam posted video of the scene on X, describing a festive atmosphere as large numbers of Iranian expatriates assembled near the White House.
‘Wow it’s crazy in downtown DC right now as hundreds of Persians descend on the White House to celebrate the ouster of the Iranian Islamic regime,’ Kassam wrote.
His videos showed a sea of flags while ‘YMCA,’ a song long associated with Trump’s campaign rallies, played through loudspeakers.
Similar scenes were reported in parts of California and other areas with large Iranian-American populations, where demonstrators waved pre-revolution Iranian flags and chanted anti-regime slogans.
Social media footage showed crowds celebrating in several cities late into the evening as news of Khamenei’s reported death spread online.
Members of the Iranian community and supporters celebrate on February 28, 2026 in Los Angeles, California as President Donald Trump announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in airstrikes
Hundreds of Persians gathered outside the White House Saturday after Donald Trump said Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in airstrikes
In New York City, however, protests broke out as demonstrators condemned the strikes and warned the killing could escalate tensions in the region.
Videos posted online showed crowds chanting and holding signs criticizing US and Israeli military action.
In a post on Truth Social, US President Trump said: ‘Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.
‘He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.’
The gathering followed proactive claims from multiple Israeli officials that Khamenei had been killed during joint US–Israeli airstrikes on Tehran earlier in the day.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, Donald Trump confirmed on Truth Social
The Ayatollah’s palace was destroyed by missiles as part of the US-Israeli military operation
His body was reportedly found beneath the rubble of his compound following the strikes, according to defense officials cited by news agencies.
Israeli media outlets reported that both Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were shown a photograph said to depict Khamenei’s body.
‘A photo of the body was shown to Netanyahu and Trump,’ Israel’s Channel 12 reported.
Public broadcaster Kan similarly reported that senior Israeli officials had been informed of Khamenei’s death and that his body had been recovered from the wreckage of the compound.
There has been no confirmation from Iranian authorities, and Tehran has denied that the Supreme Leader was killed.
In a televised address Saturday evening, Netanyahu said Israeli airstrikes had destroyed Khamenei’s compound and suggested the Iranian leader was dead.
‘All indications show this tyrant is no longer with us,’ he said.
The reported killing marks a dramatic escalation in tensions following the joint US-Israel strikes on targets in Tehran earlier Saturday.
Iran launched retaliatory attacks across the Middle East in response.
At least four people were injured after an Iranian missile strike hit the five-star Fairmont hotel on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah, according to local reports.
Independent reporter Raheem J. Kassam posted video of a large numbers of Persians celebrating the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Dramatic footage showed the exterior of the Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel burning after it was reportedly struck by a high-speed Shahed drone.
Iran was historically known in the West as Persia, a name derived from the ancient Persian Empire.
The country formally adopted the name Iran for international use in 1935 under ruler Reza Shah.
Today, Iran refers to the modern nation-state, while Persian commonly describes the language, culture and largest ethnic group in the country.
Members of the Iranian community often refer to themselves as Persian, particularly at cultural or political gatherings abroad.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989 and is the country’s highest political and religious authority.
The Daily Mail has contacted the White House and the Israeli government for comment.
