Putin condemns the killing of Iran’s Khamenei, but has offered little more than condolences.
The Russian president Vladimir Putin condemned Sunday the murder of Iranian Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling it a "cynical", but offered Moscow's ally little else in public than condolences.
Khamenei's fall is the 'third Russian ally that has been toppled? in the last 15 months. This follows the fall of?Moscow backed?leaders?in Venezuela and Syria. The Kremlin is now facing a major strategic setback after Khamenei's death.
Russia claims that the U.S., Israel and other countries have plunged the Middle East into an abyss. However, some Iranian sources claim they have received little help from Moscow during the most serious crisis Iran has faced since the U.S. supported Shah was overthrown in 1979.
Putin warned that Iranian society might consolidate around political leaders in Iran after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly speculated last year that Israel could cause a regime change.
The Kremlin reported that Putin sent his condolences in a letter to President Masoud Pezeshkian to the family of Khamenei and to the Iranian government and people.
In the letter, Putin expressed his deepest condolences for the murder of Seyed Ali Khmenei and other members of the Khamenei family. The crime was committed in a cynical breach of international law and human morality.
Iranian state media reported that Khamenei, who was 86 years old, had been killed in an air strike by Israel and the United States on Saturday. Putin has maintained constant contact with Khamenei for many years.
Khamenei was Khamenei's first visitor outside of the former Soviet Union after the beginning of the Ukraine War in 2022. Putin and Khamenei, both wary of U.S. spy intercepts, would often exchange written messages or communicate via envoy.
ANOTHER RUSSIAN ally FALLS
The fall of Khamenei is a major challenge for Moscow. Its allies in Syria and Venezuela have been ousted, and the Kremlin shows little interest in challenging U.S. president Donald Trump on Iran. They are also more successful than predicted by the West in their negotiations with Syria's newly elected rulers.
Fyodor Lukyanov is the editor-in-chief at Russia in Global Politics and he compared Khamenei's "murder" to that of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who was killed by hanging, in 2011, as well as Saddam Hussein, who died by hanging, in 2006, when he was Iraqi president.
Lukyanov stated that the lessons from Iran were clear: "Negotiating a deal with the Americans makes almost no sense."
While?Moscow bought weapons from Iran to fight in Ukraine, and signed a strategic partnership agreement with Tehran last year for 20 years, their relationship has been strained at times since 16th century when Muscovy established official relations with the Persian Empire.
The published strategic partnership contains no clause on mutual?defence, and Russia has said repeatedly that it doesn't want Iran to build an atomic weapon, a move that Moscow fears could trigger a nuclear weapons race in the Middle East.
Ayatollah Khmenei, Putin said, will be remembered in our country as a statesman of outstanding character who has made a significant contribution to the growth of friendly Russian-Iranian ties and their elevation to a comprehensive strategic relationship.
It is not clear who will rule Iran after Khamenei. However, if the Gulf oil supply is disrupted, then Russian oil revenue will rise, which will boost its war economy. (Reporting and editing by William Maclean, Guy Faulconbridge and Vladimir Soldatkin)
(source: Reuters)
