Iran Leader Killed; 8 Dead as Protesters Storm U.S. Consulate in Pakistan | WPN World People News

Iran’s state television confirmed on March 1 that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint U.S.–Israeli airstrike, a development earlier announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. Khamenei, who had held Iran’s highest political and religious authority since 1989, was widely seen as a central figure in the country’s power structure. His death is regarded as a major turning point in Middle East affairs, rapidly heightening regional security concerns and stirring emotions within Shiite communities.

Following the announcement, hundreds of pro-Iran demonstrators gathered outside the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city in the south. Some young protesters scaled the gates and smashed windows. Police responded with tear gas, while gunfire was reported and vehicles were set ablaze. The Edhi Foundation said at least eight people were killed and 20 injured, most of them with gunshot wounds. Authorities later dispersed the crowd, though the area around the consulate descended into chaos for a time.

Protests also erupted in other Pakistani cities. In the northern region of Gilgit-Baltistan, demonstrators set fire to a United Nations office building, though no casualties were immediately reported. Crowds also gathered outside U.S. consulates in Lahore and the capital Islamabad, where police heightened security to prevent further escalation. Analysts warn that as unrest spreads, the United States and related diplomatic missions have stepped up security measures, and continued escalation could have far-reaching implications for security in South Asia and the Middle East.