Iranians Tell Times of Israel They Praise Israel and US for Killing Khamenei, but Fear What Comes Next

Iranian residents shared testimonies with The Times of Israel describing jubilation following Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei death in Israeli strikes, with a Shahrud resident saying he wished to kiss the hands of Trump and Netanyahu and that people were truly happy. Tehran residents described street celebrations with dancing and cheering when news of Khamenei death broke. However, residents also expressed growing anxiety about ongoing bombardment, with daily life deteriorating sharply as shops closed, streets emptied, and food prices surged. Several voiced hope for regime collapse and the return of exiled Prince Reza Pahlavi, though deep uncertainty about Iran political future remains.