Vladimir Putin has framed the reported killing of Iran’s supreme leader as more than a regional flashpoint calling it a defining moment for international law and state sovereignty.
In a message released by the Kremlin on Sunday, Putin denounced the United States and Israel over the death of Ali Khamenei, describing the operation as a “cynical violation” of both morality and legal norms.
The statement was sent to Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, as Moscow signaled firm political backing for Tehran.
The remarks followed announcements by U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said Saturday that Khamenei had been killed after a large-scale joint strike on Iranian targets.
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Putin’s response emphasised not only personal condolences but also a broader principle. He said the killing was “carried out in a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law,” and insisted that political assassinations undermine global stability.
Khamenei, he added, “will be remembered as an outstanding statesman” who played a decisive role in strengthening Russian-Iranian ties.
Putin asked that his “most sincere sympathy and support” be conveyed to the Iranian leader’s family, the government, and the Iranian people.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry echoed that tone, saying the deaths of Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials were met with “outrage and deep regret in Moscow.”
The ministry condemned what it described as the “‘hunting’ of leaders of sovereign states” and urged “an immediate de-escalation, a cessation of hostilities, and a return to the political and diplomatic process.”
The sharp language underscores the depth of cooperation between Moscow and Tehran, particularly since Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine. Iran has been one of Russia’s closest partners during the conflict, and earlier this year the two countries formalized a 2025 strategic partnership treaty expanding cooperation, including in defense.
On Saturday, even before Putin’s message was published, Moscow warned that the strikes risked triggering a regional “catastrophe.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov later held a phone call with Iran’s top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi — a conversation the Russian side said took place “at the initiative of the Iranian side.”
