Putin Calls Killing of Khamenei a 'Cynical Violation' of Morality as Russia Positions Against U.S. Strikes

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Iran and condemned the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the U.S.-Israeli strikes as a 'cynical violation' of morality, positioning Moscow firmly against the Western military operation. Putin's statement signals that Russia will use the Iran conflict to deepen its alliance with Tehran and galvanize opposition to American military power worldwide. The condemnation arrives as Russia continues its own war in Ukraine — now entering its fifth year — and underscores how the Iran operation is reshaping global geopolitical alignments, with Moscow, Beijing, and their allies rallying against what they characterize as Western aggression.