‘Political assassination’: Moscow slams US-Israeli strike on Iranian leader

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and members of his family were killed by US-Israeli airstrikes

The US-Israeli political assassinations against Iran have no place in a civilized world, the Russian Foreign Ministry has said, commenting on the death of the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in US-Israeli airstrikes.

Tehran confirmed early Sunday that the 86-year-old leader was killed in one of the attacks. His daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter also reportedly lost their lives in the strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Khamenei’s compound was struck in a “powerful surprise attack,” vowing that “thousands of targets” in the Iranian leadership will be killed in the coming days.

Moscow met the news of Khamenei’s death with “outrage and deep sorrow,” the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“The Russian Federation resolutely and consistently condemns the practice of political assassinations and the ‘hunting’ of leaders of sovereign states, which contradicts the fundamental principles of civilized interstate relations and blatantly violates international law,” it said.

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Moscow also warned that continued hostilities are leading to growing civilian casualties and inflicting serious damage on civilian infrastructure.

The conflict also threatens maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the statement said, adding that disruptions in the key waterway could lead to major imbalances in global energy markets.

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“We call for urgent de-escalation, a cessation of hostilities, and a return to the political and diplomatic process in order to resolve existing issues on the basis of the UN Charter and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons,” the ministry added.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s office said Khamenei’s killing will not go unanswered, vowing to retaliate against “the perpetrators and commanders of this great crime” with “full strength.”

The bombing campaign launched earlier this week was described by Washington and West Jerusalem as a preemptive operation. US President Donald Trump has said regime change is one of the goals.

Moscow has said Iran was attacked because it “refused to yield to the dictates of force and hegemonic pressure.”