Putin Decries 'Cynical Murder' Of His Friend Ayatollah Khamenei

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, calling it a cynical violation of international law. He offered condolences to Iran's President Pezeshkian and remembered Khamenei as a statesman who fostered friendly Russia-Iran relations. The Kremlin confirmed ongoing communication with Iranian authorities following extensive bombing raids that killed numerous leaders. Russia expressed disappointment that nuclear negotiations, brokered by Oman, devolved into aggression. Iran had reportedly signaled progress before the operation, feeling betrayed as the operation may have been planned for weeks. Moscow's priority remains balancing relations with Washington amidst the Ukraine conflict, with negotiations continuing. Russia appreciates US mediation efforts, despite past US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. Russia likely agrees that the US cannot be trusted and may benefit from observing US resource expenditure in another Middle East operation.