On Saturday in Vancouver, many in the crowd said they hope Khamenei\u2019s reported death will create an opportunity to dismantle the current system of government and move toward democracy.<\/p>\n
Loud cheers echoed across Vancouver\u2019s David Lam Park on Saturday afternoon as thousands from the city\u2019s Iranian community gathered following reports that Iran\u2019s supreme leader had been killed in a major strike.<\/p>\n
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was dead after an attack carried out by Israel and the United States, calling the clerical ruler \u201cone of the most evil people in history.\u201d<\/p>\n
Iran’s state media confirmed Khamenei’s death as satellite images show significant damage to the leader’s Tehran compound.<\/p>\n
Several of his family members have also been killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes, including daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law and son-in-law, according to the country’s state media.<\/p>\n
The news sparked an emotional reaction among thousands of Iranian Canadians who have been rallying in Vancouver for weeks in solidarity with protests in Iran.<\/p>\n
Those rallies have drawn large crowds calling for the end of the Islamic Republic, which has ruled Iran since the 1979 revolution.<\/p>\n
Niloofar Gharavi, who says she has attended seven recent protests in the city, described Saturday\u2019s atmosphere as unlike anything she has experienced.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a lot of sadness before, but now everyone\u2019s happy,\u201d she said. \u201cThe death of Khamenei is the greatest joy. I actually started tearing up. It was a long time coming.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ali Maleki, another demonstrator, said protesters had been calling for international military intervention.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the last two months, we have been asking for global military action against the Iranian regime,\u201d he said, thanking Trump for the strike. \u201cAfter removing this regime, peace will come to all the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is what we asked for,\u201d he said. \u201cNobody slept well for two months. Everyone has been stressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nationwide protests<\/a> in Iran started Dec. 28 in response to soaring prices, then turned into wider anti-government protests against the clerical rulers who have governed the country for nearly 50 years. The Iranian government then began a crackdown on widespread protests that activist groups say killed thousands<\/a>.<\/p>\n On Saturday in Vancouver, many in the crowd said they hope Khamenei\u2019s reported death will create an opportunity to dismantle the current system of government and move toward democracy.<\/p>\n
![\"Ali](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/ff91bfbd3a832929ace3e96bccba5c97.jpeg\"\/)
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