The aftermath of the U.S. and Israeli strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei continues to generate new claims about the devastating attack, with an Iranian Shiite cleric describing the destruction around the leader's compound in graphic terms.
According to Fox News Digital's live coverage, the cleric claimed that the smell of burned flesh was still noticeable near Khamenei's compound in Tehran. He said he personally visited the area and encountered the smell, describing the scene as evidence of the destruction caused by the strike.
The account was circulated by Iranian media and shared by Iran International. However, the outlet did not independently verify the cleric's description, making clear that the claims should be treated cautiously.
Cleric disputes earlier reports about attack
The most striking part of the cleric's account was his claim about the number of weapons used against Khamenei's compound.
Earlier reports had suggested that several bombs struck the location. The cleric, however, claimed the compound was hit by 110 bombs and missiles, dramatically exceeding previous figures.
“Our leader had a frail body,” the cleric said while describing the attack, before disputing reports that only seven or eight bombs had struck the site. According to his account, the actual number was 110 bombs and missiles.
There was no independent confirmation in the Fox News report of the 110-weapon figure.
If accurate, the claim would underscore the extraordinary intensity of the operation directed at Iran's top leadership and would offer a glimpse into the scale of the military effort used to target the compound.
Khamenei's death marked a major turning point
Khamenei's death represents one of the most consequential developments of the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel.
As Iran's supreme leader, Khamenei stood at the center of the Islamic Republic's political and religious power structure. His removal created a major leadership vacuum and added another layer of uncertainty to a conflict already threatening to reshape the Middle East.
The continuing reports about the destruction of his compound have also become part of the broader battle over how the strike is understood inside Iran.
The cleric's comments appear to emphasize the severity of the attack and the physical destruction inflicted on one of the Islamic Republic's most important sites.
Tehran faces mounting pressure
The revelations about the strike came as the Trump administration continued applying military and economic pressure against Tehran.
President Donald Trump described the war as “a little detour” during a Friday night rally for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham in South Carolina. At the same time, his administration was preparing another round of sanctions designed to increase economic pressure on Iran.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was expected to announce additional sanctions Monday as part of Trump's effort to squeeze Tehran financially. Fox News reported that Trump had described the planned economic campaign as an “economic D-Day.”
The administration's strategy therefore appears to be moving on two fronts: maintaining military pressure while attempting to weaken Iran's ability to finance and sustain its war effort.
Iran signals resistance while seeking an end to war
Despite the destruction reported around Khamenei's former compound, Iranian officials have continued to reject the idea that Tehran has simply capitulated.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for an immediate end to the war during a Friday speech, while appearing to criticize more hard-line elements within Iran's political system.
At the same time, Iran continued to control access through the strategically important Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media reported Saturday that Tehran had permitted several Iraqi oil tankers to pass through the waterway.
Trump has separately said Iran wants to reach a deal and has characterized the Strait of Hormuz in unusually forceful terms, calling it “American territory.”
A battle over the narrative
The claims surrounding Khamenei's compound illustrate another important dimension of the conflict: information warfare.
Iranian officials and supporters have an incentive to portray the attack as both devastating and historically significant, while the United States and Israel have emphasized the military objectives and strategic consequences of their operations.
The claim that 110 bombs and missiles struck the supreme leader's compound is therefore significant, but it remains an unverified statement from an Iranian cleric rather than an independently established fact.
What is not in dispute from the available reporting is that the compound suffered an extremely destructive attack and that Khamenei was killed.
As the war continues, additional satellite imagery, military assessments and independent reporting could provide a clearer picture of exactly how much force was used against the compound and the full extent of the destruction.
For now, the haunting descriptions coming from Tehran — including the cleric's claim that the smell of burned flesh remains near the site — provide a grim indication of the physical aftermath left by the strike.
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