‘Cynical violation of law’: Russia, China condemn killing of Khamenei in US-Israel strikes

The sidesplitting of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei successful associated US–Israeli strikes has drawn beardown reactions from some Russia and China, with leaders successful Moscow and Beijing sharply criticising the determination and urging an contiguous halt to subject operations.Khamenei, 86, was killed successful a large aerial battle connected Iranian subject and authorities sites. His decease has pushed the portion into caller instability, with Iran launching retaliatory rocket and drone attacks crossed the Gulf.

Putin calls sidesplitting ‘cynical violation’ of law

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the assassination arsenic “a cynical usurpation of each norms of quality morality and planetary law”, arsenic per quality bureau AFP.In a missive published by the Kremlin and addressed to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Putin expressed his “deepest condolences for the assassination of” Khamenei.

He said the Iranian person “will beryllium remembered arsenic an outstanding statesman who made an tremendous idiosyncratic publication to the improvement of affable Russian-Iranian relations”.Putin besides asked Pezeshkian to “convey my astir sincere sympathy and enactment to the relatives and loved ones of the Supreme Leader, to the authorities and to the full radical of Iran”.Russia had earlier condemned the US–Israeli strikes arsenic a “dangerous adventure” that could trigger a determination “catastrophe”.

Moscow had antecedently called for restraint successful the run-up to the attacks.On Saturday, Russian overseas curate Sergei Lavrov held a telephone telephone with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. The Russian overseas ministry stressed that the speech was held “at the inaugural of the Iranian side”.Russia and Iran person strengthened ties successful caller years, particularly aft Moscow’s violative successful Ukraine. In 2025, the 2 countries signed a strategical concern pact aimed astatine deepening cooperation, including successful subject matters.

China says sidesplitting ‘unacceptable’

China besides issued a beardown condemnation. According to AFP, Beijing said the sidesplitting was “a superior usurpation of Iran's sovereignty and security, a trampling connected the aims and principles of the UN Charter and the basal norms of planetary relations”.“China firmly opposes and powerfully condemns this,” the overseas ministry said, calling for an “immediate halting of subject operations”.Chinese overseas curate Wang Yi spoke by telephone with Sergei Lavrov, successful a telephone initiated by the Russian side, Chinese authorities media reported.During the conversation, Wang said the “blatant sidesplitting of a sovereign person and the incitement of authorities change” by the United States and Israel was “unacceptable”, according to China’s Xinhua quality agency.He added that China was “highly concerned” the Middle East could beryllium pushed into a “dangerous abyss”. Wang besides warned that attacking a sovereign authorities without UN Security Council authorisation undermines the planetary bid established aft the Second World War.“The planetary assemblage indispensable nonstop a definite and wide connection opposing the world’s regression to the instrumentality of the jungle,” helium said.

Evacuation advisory for Chinese citizens

Amid rising tensions, Beijing has urged its citizens successful Iran to permission the state “as soon arsenic possible”. Repeating the telephone connected Sunday, the overseas ministry said Chinese passport holders could exit Iran done visa-free onshore routes into Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey.The informing reflects increasing fears that the struggle could widen further aft Iran fired drones and missiles astatine Israel, US subject installations and Gulf states, according to quality bureau AP.

Wider planetary concern

The sidesplitting has sparked alarm beyond Moscow and Beijing. Pope Leo XIV called for an extremity to the “spiral of violence” and urged each parties to enactment with “moral responsibility” earlier the concern becomes “an irreparable chasm”.“Stability and bid are not built done communal threats oregon with weapons, which sow destruction, pain, and death, but lone done reasonable, genuine, and liable dialogue,” the Pope said during his Angelus supplication successful St Peter’s Square.Meanwhile, the United States has defended the operation. President Donald Trump said the strikes gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their state and warned Tehran against escalating attacks further.

The beardown connection from Moscow and Beijing portrays a widening geopolitical divide. Both Russia and China person person ties with Iran and person often criticised US and Israeli actions successful the region.With Russia and Iran bound by a caller strategical pact and China informing against “regime change”, the reactions amusement that the sidesplitting of Khamenei is not lone a determination contented but 1 with planetary diplomatic consequences.