Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country has deepened military and strategic ties with Iran in recent years, has called the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by US and Israeli airstrikes “a cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”
In a telegram to his Iranian counterpart Massoud Pezeshkian, Putin expressed his “deep condolences” over the “assassination” of Khamenei and several members of his family to “the entire people of Iran,” according to the Kremlin press service.
“In our country, Ayatollah Khamenei will be remembered as an outstanding statesman who made a huge personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian relations, bringing them to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership,” Putin was quoted as saying by the Kremlin press service.
Putin himself faced accusations of violating international law over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The International Criminal Court declared Putin wanted in March 2023. The Russian president is accused of war crimes in Ukraine. Moscow denies the charges and says it does not recognise the court’s jurisdiction.
Israel and the U.S. said Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei died as a result of Israeli-U.S. strikes.
Tehran confirmed this on 1 March, saying an Interim Leadership Council would be formed today and would include Iran’s president, the chairman of the judiciary and a lawyer from the Guardian Council.