Ayatollah Ali Khamenei‘s killing has been described as a « declaration of war against Muslims » by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Speaking on state television, Pezeshkian appeared to be trying to broaden the conflict.
He said: « The assassination of the highest political authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a prominent leader of Shiism worldwide… is perceived as an open declaration of war against Muslims, and particularly against Shiites, everywhere in the world. The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime. »
Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani says Iran will strike the US and Israel with « force they have never experienced before ».
Meanwhile, there have been strong reactions from other Muslim leaders and senior figures in the Islamic world.
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq’s most revered Shia cleric, issued a rare and powerful statement from Najaf, describing Khamenei’s death as « martyrdom. »
He extended his condolences to the « noble Iranian people » and warned that the strikes were a « sinister » attempt to destroy Iran. He urged Iranians to maintain unity to « thwart the aggressors’ goals. »
Pro-Iran factions in Iraq, including the Coordination Framework, mirrored Sistani’s language, declaring that Khamenei’s blood would be a « guiding light. » In Baghdad, protesters attempted to storm the US embassy in the Green Zone in response to the killing.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia condemned the Israeli strikes and accompanying US military action in the strongest terms.
He warned that the escalation had pushed the Middle East to the « edge of catastrophe » and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed « deep sorrow » and stated he was « deeply disturbed » by the US-Israeli attacks, which he said « clearly violate Iran’s sovereignty. »
However, he also issued a rare and firm condemnation of Iran’s subsequent retaliation, calling the drone and missile attacks on Gulf countries « unacceptable, regardless of the reason. » He warned that the region is now in a « ring of fire. »
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