Russia condemns killing of Iran’s Supreme, calls for de-escalation

Russia has expressed ldquooutrage and deep sorrowrdquo over the killing of Iranrsquos Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei along with members of his family and senior Iranian officials in missile strikes carried out by the United States and IsraelThe Russian Foreign Ministry in an official statement stated that it condemns the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei calling it a violation of international law and a breach of the principles of civilised interstate relationsRetaliation strikes at the US military bases in the Arab countries of the Persian Gulf along with the activation of antiaircraft defence systems have caused damage to the international airports the statement saidRussia noted that ongoing military operations have led to rising civilian casualties and significant damage to infrastructure Retaliatory strikes on US military bases in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf along with the activation of antiaircraft systems have reportedly caused damage to international airports in Dubai and Kuwait City seaports highrises and hotels across Bahrain Qatar Kuwait the UAE and Saudi ArabiaCall for immediate diplomacyRussia urged all parties to immediately deescalate tensions cease hostilities and resume political and diplomatic negotiations The country stressed that any resolution should respect the UN Charter and the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear Weapons while taking into account the legitimate interests of all states in the Persian Gulf We call for immediate deescalation cessation of hostilities resumption of political and diplomatic processes to settle any existing problems on the basis of the UN Charter and the Treaty on the NonProliferation of Nuclear WeaponshttpstcoWAJ1NlrEHT pictwittercomHZkme3Yc0cmdash MFA Russia mfa_russia March 1 2026Putin condemns killing of Ayatollah Ali KhameneiThe Russian Foreign Ministry issued the statement hours after President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian over the killing of Iranrsquos Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei condolencesrdquo according to the KremlinThe Foreign Ministry also warned that closure of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz could severely disrupt hydrocarbon exports and create major imbalances in global oil and gas marketsDiplomatic coordination with Gulf and ChinaOn Sunday Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held phone calls with several counterparts from Gulf states including Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAELavrov also spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi The two ministers highlighted the unity of Moscow and Beijingrsquos positions during an emergency UN Security Council meeting held on Saturday at the initiative of Russia and China