Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday strongly condemned the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — the Supreme Leader of Iran — calling it a “cynical murder” that violated fundamental norms of human morality and international law.
In an official letter to Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin expressed his deep condolences to the Iranian president, the government, Khamenei’s family and the Iranian people, while describing the slain leader as an outstanding statesman who contributed to strengthening Russian-Iranian relations.
Despite the forceful language condemning the killing in airstrikes by the United States and Israel, Putin’s public remarks have so far been limited to offering sympathy and moral criticism, with no significant new commitments of support to Moscow’s ally amid the escalating Middle East tensions.
