Russian President Vladimir Putin classified the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday (29), aged 86, as a “cynical murder”, during air strikes attributed to Israel and the United States.
In an official message sent to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and released by the Kremlin, Putin stated that the action violated “all norms of human morality and international law”. The Russian leader also expressed condolences for the deaths of members of Khamenei’s family, hit in the same attack.
“Please accept my deepest condolences for the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”
In the note, the Russian president highlighted Khamenei’s role in strengthening relations between Moscow and Tehran. According to Putin, the ayatollah will be remembered in Russia as “an extraordinary statesman”, who contributed decisively to elevating bilateral ties to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.
