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The Cuban-American congressman Mario Diaz-Balart celebrated the probable death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a "gift to humanity."
“The removal of Jamenei and other top officials of the terrorist regime is a gift to humanity. After 47 years, I hope that the Iranian people can finally determine their own destiny,” he said on X.
"God bless and protect our troops as they continue this noble effort to eliminate this threat to our national security," he added.
Balart joins the reaction of his colleague María Elvira Salazar, who also celebrated the likely death of Jamenei.
"When you see Iranians celebrating and thanking the United States, that says everything about this operation and where the true heart of the people lies," said the Republican.
"Our actions against the Iranian regime have been decisive and necessary to protect American lives and our national security. We are dismantling their nuclear program, weakening their ballistic missile capabilities, and holding accountable those who for decades have chanted 'Death to America' and massacred over 30,000 brave Iranians just a month ago. A regime like this has no legitimacy," he added.
Salazar stated that he supports "the strong and decisive leadership of President Trump for acting swiftly and standing by the brave Iranian people who are desperately seeking freedom. There is no room for tyrants in the 21st century."
"I will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our brave soldiers and our president in my prayers," he concluded.
Joy in Iran
This Saturday, thousands of Iranians both inside and outside the country celebrated the fall of Jamenei, who according to reports, is said to have died following the joint attacks by the United States and Israel since dawn.
Posts shared on platforms like X show thousands of citizens in the streets during the early hours celebrating what they describe as the end of decades of repression under the Islamic Republic.
Some messages mention a "party for the death of the tyrant" and a people that "lost their fear."
So far, there has been no detailed official statement from the Iranian authorities that confirms or denies the situation broadly, but U.S. President Donald Trump himself suggested that Khamenei might be dead.
Some videos show nighttime gatherings with slogans in favor of freedom and against the Islamic regime.
Other images, circulated from cities like London, Miami, and various locations in Australia, show members of the Iranian diaspora celebrating what they see as the end of a political era.
In London, even scenes of Iranians and Israelis celebrating together were shared, in a symbolic gesture of unity.
Messages posted by Iranian users state that "the people are beginning to be free" and that the fall of the religious leader opens the door to profound political change.
Iran has gone through a period of intense internal tensions in recent years, with mass protests against the regime, reports of repression, restrictions on civil liberties, and increasing social discontent, especially among the youth.
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