(DCNF)—Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during military strikes carried out Saturday by the United States and Israel, Reuters reported, citing Israeli officials.
President Donald Trump announced the United States military launched strikes, identified as Operation Epic Fury, in a video posted to Truth Social early Saturday morning. Khamenei’s body was subsequently recovered, Reuters National Security Correspondent Idrees Ali reported, citing Israeli sources.
Video posted on X appeared to show Khamenei’s residence had been hit during the strikes, with a woman claiming, “They hit the Supreme Leader[‘s] compound.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were increasing indications Khamenei did not survive in earlier remarks to the Israeli people Saturday.
“Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed his country with an update saying that the Israelis targeted the compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei. And Netanyahu goes on to say there are many signs that he is no longer,” Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst reported on air. “Again, not confirmation that he was killed, but the Israelis think they were successful in the strike against Iran’s Supreme Leader.”
During a Saturday interview with NBC News, Trump appeared to concur with the Israeli assessment.
“We feel that that is a correct story,” Trump reportedly said, adding, “The people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone.”
Fox News National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin reported that five to ten other leadership figures in Iran’s theocratic regime were also killed in the strike.
In January 2026, Khamenei issued multiple threats against Trump on social media, including depicting the president in a coffin. Trump told NewsNation host Katie Pavlich in a Jan. 21 interview that, if Khamenei’s threat were ever carried out, the United States would “wipe [Iran] off the face of this earth.”
Trump previously warned Iran not to harm protesters who oppose the regime, including threatening action if the regime hanged demonstrators who had been arrested. While Iran reportedly didn’t hang any of the 800 protesters Trump referenced, the theocratic regime’s forces have allegedly killed thousands of others.
In June 2025, the United States bombed multiple facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan which reportedly supported Iran’s nuclear weapons program, dropping as many as 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators. The operation, which involved a 37-hour flight by seven United States Air Force B-2A Spirit bombers, inflicted significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program with no American losses.
Khamenei, a follower of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, became involved in anti-Shah activism from the 1960s, according to his official biography. After the 1979 Revolution, he held multiple positions, before becoming president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
After Khomenei’s death in 1989, Khamenei was named Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Council of Experts. During his tenure, multiple protests against his regime were violently suppressed and Iranian proxies carried out terrorist attacks against Israel.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.