Street celebrations erupt in Iran after announcement of Khamenei’s death

Iranians took to the streets cheering and playing celebratory music after reports emerged of the death of Ali Khamenei, supreme leader of Iran.

There was no official confirmation from Tehran at the time, but videos shared on Telegram showed residents blaring music, clapping, cheering and honking car horns.

The celebrations reportedly began shortly after 11 pm, following circulating reports of Khamenei’s death, according to witnesses and audio recordings.

Witnesses said loud cheers echoed across parts of Tehran as residents stepped out onto balconies and opened windows to applaud and play music.

Sustained whistles, cheers and fireworks were heard and seen in videos circulated on social media and verified by AFP.

At that stage, large crowds had not yet gathered en masse in the streets, according to social media accounts.

The reaction followed weeks of tension in the country after a deadly crackdown on mass anti-government protests last month.

The protests, which began in December over worsening economic conditions in the sanctions-hit country, escalated into nationwide demonstrations that peaked on January 8 and 9, posing one of the most significant challenges to Iran’s leadership in years.

The unrest triggered a violent government response that reportedly left thousands dead..

During the protests, the government sought to acknowledge economic grievances while condemning what it termed “rioters”.