In an official letter, Putin condemned the US-Israeli assassination of Iran’s Khamenei

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei On Sunday, Israel and the US called the deaths a “blatant violation” of the rules.

Putin made the statement in a letter to Iranian President Masoud Pezheshkian that the Kremlin released to the public in the wake of Khamenei’s death. Saturday’s daring daytime attacks killed Khamenei and several other prominent Iranian leaders, including the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

“Please accept my heartfelt condolences for the assassination of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, and his family members, who violated all norms of human morality and international law.” Putin wrote.

Putin added, “In our country, Ayatollah Khamenei will be remembered as an outstanding statesman who made a great personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian relations and bringing them to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. (Kremlin Press Office / Handout / Anadolu via Getty Images)

“I ask you to extend my most sincere sympathy and support to the Supreme Leader’s family and friends, the government and the entire people of Iran,” he added.

Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeed Iravani, condemned the joint US-Israeli attack on his entire country on Saturday at the UN Security Council meeting.

Iravani accused the US of undermining its claim to pursue international stability while attacking a sovereign country for its “domestic” activities.

Trump tells Iranians ‘your time for freedom is near’ as US-Israel strikes Iran

Demonstrators gather in Basra, Iraq on February 28, 2026 to protest the US and Israeli attacks on Iran. (Haider Mohammad Ali/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Neither Sanad nor International Law Recognizing the internal affairs of a state as a justification for the use of force by other states. The rule of law will be replaced by the rule of force,” Iravani said.

“Iran will continue to exercise its right of self-defense decisively and without hesitation until the aggression is stopped in full and unequivocal terms.”

Saturday morning, President Donald Trump Ordered the implementation of Operation Epic Fury, citing Tehran’s continued efforts to develop nuclear weapons.

The historic US-Israel attack on Iran comes as Tehran faces an existential test of its government

“It has always been the policy of the United States, particularly my administration, that this terrorist regime never A nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. “They can never have nuclear weapons,” Trump said in commenting on Saturday’s attack.

Trump said the strikes were aimed “to protect the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime” and came after Iran refused to give up development plans. nuclear potential.

This map shows the targets of Iran’s retaliatory strikes. (Fox News)

Iravani called the attack a continuation of America’s long-running aggression against Iran.

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“Mr. President, this morning the regime of the United States, jointly and in coordination with the regime of Israel, launched an unprovoked and premeditated aggression against the regime of Israel. Islamic Republic of Iran “For the second time in recent months,” Irwani said, referring to the US attacks on its nuclear enrichment sites last year. integrity.”

Fox News’ Leo Brisnow and Reuters contributed to this report.

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