Russian President Vladimir Putin condoles Khamenei ‘assassination’; calls it a ‘cynical murder’
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has sharply denounced the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, describing the act as a “cynical murder” and a blatant breach of international norms, as tensions escalate following the unprecedented joint Israeli–US strike inside Iran.
Putin extended his condolences to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, criticising the attack that Tehran says led to the death of the country’s long-serving leader. He said the killing violated “all standards of human morality and international law”, according to the Kremlin.
On Sunday, the Kremlin released a letter addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which Putin offered his “deepest condolences for the assassination of” Khamenei. In the message, he said the late supreme leader “will be remembered as an outstanding statesman who made an enormous personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian relations.” Putin asked Pezeshkian to “convey my most sincere sympathy and support to the relatives and loved ones of the Supreme Leader, to the government and to the entire people of Iran.”
Russia had already condemned Saturday’s strikes on Iran as a “dangerous adventure” that risked triggering a regional “catastrophe.” Tehran has been one of Moscow’s closest partners throughout Russia’s war in Ukraine, and the Kremlin had urged restraint in the build-up to the US-Israeli operation.
Also on Saturday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone call with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a conversation the Russian Foreign Ministry said took place “at the initiative of the Iranian side.”
Russia and Iran deepened their cooperation last year by signing a strategic partnership treaty aimed at expanding political, military and economic ties between the two nations.
Joint Israeli-US operation targeted Iranian leadership
Iranian officials confirmed that the strikes, carried out early Saturday, killed several senior figures in Iran’s security establishment. The Israeli military identified the mission as “Operation Roaring Lion,” a campaign that IDF Lt Col Nadav Shoshani said followed extensive joint planning with the Israel Defense Forces and the United States Armed Forces.
In addition to Khamenei, Iran’s state-run IRNA reported that Abdul Rahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Army, and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh were among those killed. More commanders are expected to be named, according to the report.
The Israeli Air Force later confirmed its fighter jets had struck multiple Iranian military sites, saying seven senior defence officials were killed. Those reportedly included Ali Shamkhani and Mohammad Pakpour.
Interim leadership appointed in Tehran
As Iran grappled with the fallout of the attack, authorities named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi to an interim leadership council tasked with guiding the country until a permanent successor is chosen.
"The Expediency Discernment Council has elected Ayatollah Alireza Arafi as a member of the interim leadership council," spokesman Mohsen Dehnavi announced on X.
The council – comprising Arafi, the president and the judiciary chief – will hold authority until the Assembly of Experts selects a new supreme leader “as soon as possible”.