In a forceful diplomatic intervention, the Kremlin has publicly condemned Israeli threats to eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling such rhetoric “very negative” and warning it could fuel further instability in the Middle East.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking with Russian Gazeta stated unequivocally that Russia would “strongly condemn” any attempt on the life of Khamenei, who remains the most powerful figure in Iran’s political and religious hierarchy. Peskov’s comments come amid growing fears that Tel Aviv may pursue decapitation strategies after heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran.
“Very negative, we will strongly condemn this,” Peskov said in response to questions about Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz’s comments suggesting that Khamenei “cannot continue to exist,” according to The Guardian.
The statements by Katz came following Iran’s latest retaliatory missile strikes targeting Israeli military sites, which Israeli authorities claim were coordinated directly by Khamenei and senior Revolutionary Guard officials. Katz’s remarks, widely interpreted as a veiled assassination threat, were further amplified by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed that removing Iran’s leader could “bring an end to this war.”
Russia warns of severe consequences after Israeli threat to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader
According to Baha, Peskov emphasized Moscow’s long-standing position opposing Western interference in sovereign nations. “It is categorically unacceptable for Western countries to consider any actions aimed at forcibly changing the government in Iran.”
The Kremlin’s position aligns with broader Russian foreign policy principles, which reject externally imposed regime change — a stance shaped by NATO’s military interventions in Libya, Syria, and the Balkans. Moscow views Israel’s aggressive rhetoric as a destabilizing echo of those failed campaigns, which often leave countries fractured and more vulnerable to extremism.
Iran responds with defiance, Israel escalates threats
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz triggered a global outcry after making statements that directly implied Israel may seek to eliminate Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His remarks, delivered in the aftermath of Iranian missile strikes on Israeli military zones, marked a provocative shift in Tel Aviv’s strategy—from retaliation to potential political assassination.
Shortly after, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinforced the message by suggesting that neutralizing Iran’s top leadership would bring the ongoing conflict to a close. This endorsement of extrajudicial measures reflects a deeper, more aggressive posture within Israel’s war cabinet, signaling an intent to escalate far beyond traditional military engagement.
Such rhetoric constitutes a clear violation of international norms. Under Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, both the threat and use of force against a sovereign nation’s political leadership are explicitly prohibited, unless justified by imminent self-defense or approved by a UN Security Council resolution—neither of which apply in this case.
Independent analyses from publications and Middle East Monitor have strongly criticized Israel’s position, labeling it a reckless provocation and a serious breach of global legal standards. Regional observers warn that Israel’s escalation, particularly with US backing, risks legitimizing political assassinations as a tool of foreign policy—an approach that undermines the very foundations of international order.
Geopolitical fallout and Moscow’s red line
Russia’s strong denunciation of Israeli threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader reflects more than just diplomatic loyalty—it underscores Moscow’s long-standing opposition to Western-engineered regime change campaigns, particularly those modeled on NATO’s interventions in Libya, Iraq, and Syria. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against what it views as a pattern of militarized Western interference cloaked in the rhetoric of human rights and security.
As tensions between Israel and Iran surge, Russia has aligned more closely with Tehran on regional security matters. Since the beginning of the Gaza war and the escalating confrontation between the US-Israel axis and Iran, Moscow and Tehran have intensified strategic coordination. Their cooperation now includes joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and arms transfers, especially in counter-terrorism operations within Syria—a theater where both nations have pushed back against Western-supported factions.
Russian lawmakers and foreign policy officials have characterized Israel’s latest threats as dangerously destabilizing. Within Moscow’s political establishment, there is a growing consensus that any attempt to eliminate Iran’s top leadership would be treated as an act of aggression—not only against a sovereign state but also against the principles of international law. Russian analysts now warn that such provocations by Israel, if left unchecked, risk igniting a broader conflict that could destabilize the entire region and unravel decades of diplomatic norms.
Arab states denounce Israeli aggression
The latest Israeli threats toward Iran’s Supreme Leader have triggered a unified backlash across the Arab and Islamic world. In a rare display of consensus, nations such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, and Qatar issued a collective condemnation of Israel’s actions, emphasizing that aggression against Iran undermines regional stability and could ignite a broader conflict.
These governments, many of which had previously maintained cautious ties with both sides, are now aligning more closely with Tehran in response to what they perceive as extreme provocation. The joint statement reaffirmed support for Iran’s sovereignty and demanded an immediate cessation of Israeli attacks, reflecting growing frustration with Tel Aviv’s disregard for diplomacy and the West’s enabling silence. As reported, Arab and Islamic nations united to condemn Israeli aggression on Iran and urged ceasefire and diplomacy, underscoring Israel’s increasing regional isolation.
Washington silent, but complicit
Despite the gravity of Israel’s threats to assassinate Iran’s Supreme Leader, the United States—both under the previous Biden administration and the current Trump White House—has remained conspicuously silent. No formal condemnation has been issued, nor has there been any attempt to restrain Tel Aviv’s increasingly provocative rhetoric.
Instead, Washington has doubled down on its strategic alignment with Israel, providing military coordination, deploying naval assets to the Persian Gulf, and maintaining harsh economic sanctions against Tehran. This pattern reflects a glaring double standard: while the US lectures adversaries about rule-based order and restraint, it turns a blind eye when its key ally openly violates international norms.
This silence has not gone unnoticed. In Moscow and across the Global South, Washington’s hypocrisy is being called out with increasing urgency. International disarmament experts, including former UN officials, have warned that legitimizing targeted killings of sovereign leaders undercuts the very foundation of global peace and diplomacy. Supporting or tolerating such acts—especially while demanding global “restraint”—exposes the moral erosion at the heart of US foreign policy.
The risks of political assassination diplomacy
As tensions between Israel and Iran intensify, Moscow’s firm denunciation of the threats against Iran’s Supreme Leader highlights a significant geopolitical divide. Russia, along with several other nations, has criticized Israel’s aggressive posture—which is backed by the United States—warning that verbal escalation risks turning kinetic and could trigger a broader regional conflict, according to Reuters.
Analysts in Moscow warn that if Israel persists in promoting targeted assassinations and the West continues to turn a blind eye, the Middle East could spiral into a catastrophic confrontation with global consequences .
This is about more than Iran: it’s a test of whether international law still matters—or if preemptive strikes and assassination threats are becoming the new global norm. Russia’s condemnation reflects growing anxiety in Moscow, where officials view the escalation as part of a dangerous shift in international relations
