‘It’s murder’: Putin speaks on Khamenei’s death as protests rock Pakistan, Iraq

Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the killing of Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as murder.

Putin added that Khamenei’s killing by airstrikes jointly launched by the United States and Israel violated all the norms of human morality and international law.

“Please accept my deep condolences in connection with the murder of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Seyed Ali Khamenei, and members of his family, committed in cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law,” Putin said in a note to Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian released by the Kremlin on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Russia itself stands accused by many nations of violating international law with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Pakistani police fired tear gas to scatter protesters who breached the outer wall of the U.S. consulate in the southern city of Karachi following news that strikes on Iran had killed Khamenei.

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Protesters were pushed back from the consulate, a spokesman for the local government said.

Sounds of gunfire were heard, while video footage showed burning vehicles outside the consulate’s main gate, according to Reuters.

No casualties were reported, and U.S. diplomats in the consulate were not immediately available for comment.

Large protests also broke out in other parts of Pakistan. Protesters set fire to a United Nations office building in the northern city of Skardu.

Pro-Iranian protesters also gathered outside the Green Zone in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where the U.S. Embassy is located.

The Star