ISLAMABAD: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed Saturday in joint US-Israeli airstrikes, fracturing the international community between condemnation and celebration.
China
According to China's Foreign Ministry, the killing of Khamenei constituted "a serious violation of Iran's sovereignty and security" and a direct trampling on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international relations. The ministry called for the "immediate halting of military operations" and urged all parties to return to dialogue.
In a direct call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the killing of the leader of a sovereign country as categorically unacceptable under international law, as reported by China's state-run Xinhua News Agency.
He specifically condemned the timing of the strikes, stating it was unacceptable for the US and Israel to launch attacks on Iran while Washington and Tehran were still engaged in active nuclear negotiations.
Wang outlined China's three-point position: an immediate cessation of military operations, a prompt return to dialogue and negotiations, and joint opposition to what Beijing characterized as unlawful unilateral actions.
The Chinese foreign minister also expressed concern that the strikes were aimed at forcing regime change, something China regards as a fundamental violation of state sovereignty and the UN Charter's non-interference principle.
Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a formal message of condolences to Tehran, calling Khamenei "an outstanding statesman" who had made an enormous personal contribution to Russian-Iranian ties.
As per the Kremlin's official statement, Putin described the killing as committed in "cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law" and conveyed his "most sincere sympathy and support" to Khamenei's family, as well as to the Iranian leadership and people.
Kremlin called the strikes as an extension of a pattern of “Western disregard” for sovereignty and “international law.”
Russian state media reported that Moscow was closely monitoring the situation and would continue consultations with regional and global partners in the coming days.
United States
President Donald Trump called Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history" and described his death as "justice for the people of Iran" and for Americans harmed by his regime.
Trump urged Iranians to "seize control of your destiny" and "take back their country," framing the moment as a rare opening for revolution. The administration announced that "heavy and pinpoint bombing" would continue throughout the week or longer.
Trump warned Iran that further retaliatory strikes would be met with "force that has never been seen before."
At the UN Security Council, US Ambassador Mike Waltz dismissed legal objections from Iran's representative, invoking Article 51 of the UN Charter to justify the strikes as lawful acts of self-defense.
According to the US Mission to the United Nations, Waltz cited 47 years of Iranian hostility, including alleged assassination attempts against Trump himself. He closed by suggesting the Iranian people would "finally be free."
United Nations: 'Region on the brink'
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Guterres condemned both the US-Israeli strikes and Iran's retaliatory attacks, calling for an immediate ceasefire. He told the Security Council that an airstrike killed at least 85 people at a girls' school in Minab and warned that military escalation risked "igniting a chain of events that no one can control."
Guterres expressed regret that a third round of indirect US-Iran talks mediated by Oman had just concluded, with technical talks in Vienna scheduled for the following week. "This opportunity for diplomacy has been squandered," he said.
Türkiye: 'Ring of fire'
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan condemned the strikes as a "clear violation of Iran's sovereignty" while also calling Iran's retaliatory strikes on Gulf states "unacceptable." He warned that the region faces the risk of being "dragged into a ring of fire" unless diplomacy prevails.
Erdoğan said he had spoken personally with both Trump and Iranian President Pezeshkian before the strikes began but was unable to prevent them, citing a "crisis of confidence" between the parties and ongoing Israeli efforts to undermine the process.
According to a statement from Turkey's Directorate of Communications, Erdoğan pledged to intensify diplomatic engagements to secure a ceasefire and facilitate a return to the negotiating table.
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