At that point, people were not yet coming out en masse into the streets to celebrate, according to social media. Earlier today, Iranian officials had dismissed such claims of the Supreme Leader’s death. Later, his official X account posted an image of a faceless clerical figure holding a flaming sword. Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3000 deaths, but say the violence was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by the US and Israel. During the protests, the Government had sought to walk a line between acknowledging protesters’ legitimate economic grievances while condemning so-called “rioters”.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 01, 2026 15:44 UTC