Vladimir Putin slams US, Israel over Khamenei killing; flags violation of international law

Moscow: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a US and Israeli airstrike, raising tensions once again in the Middle East. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei's death as murder, saying it violated international law.

Tehran was one of Russia's closest allies during Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, and the Kremlin had previously called for restraint before US-Israeli attacks on Iran. On Sunday, the Kremlin published a letter sent by Putin to his Iranian counterpart, Masoud Pezeshkian, in which the Russian leader expressed his deep condolences over Khamenei's killing.

What did Vladimir Putin say?

Vladimir Putin stated that the reported killing Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was carried out in a reprehensible violation of all norms of human morality and international law. Putin said that Khamenei will be remembered as an outstanding statesman who made a significant personal contribution to building friendly Russian-Iranian relations. He asked Pezeshkian to convey his sincere sympathy and support to the Supreme Leader's relatives and loved ones, the government, and all the people of Iran.

Russia on Saturday condemned the attacks on Iran, calling them a dangerous adventure that could lead to devastation in the region. Also on Saturday, Moscow's top diplomat, Sergei Lavrov, spoke by phone with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi. The Russian Ministry stressed that the call was initiated by the Iranian side. In 2025, Russia and Iran signed a Strategic Partnership Treaty aimed at strengthening ties, including in military matters.

Like Russia, several other countries have also condemned the attacks. The Chinese government said it was deeply concerned about the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. China called for an immediate halt to military action and the resumption of dialogue. A statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry said, "Iran's sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected."

How did Canada react to attack on Iran?

Despite recently strained relations with the US, Canada also supported the military action. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said, "Iran's Islamic regime is the biggest source of instability and terror throughout West Asia. Concern is evident in many countries."

Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, speaking to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, said he worried that the failure of talks between the US and Iran could mean "a new, major war" in West Asia. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, strongly condemned the US-Israeli attacks on Iran.