- The Israeli Defense Minister called the killing of Khamenei a strategic turning point.
- Israel’s president sees a military confrontation with Iran as a historic opportunity.
- The French government publicly welcomed Khamenei’s death, calling him a bloodthirsty dictator.
- China condemned the killing of the Iranian leader as an unacceptable violation of sovereignty and stability.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Kac called the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a turning point on Sunday. President of Israel Yitzchak Herzog expressed hope that his country’s ongoing conflict with Iran will usher in a “new era” for the entire Middle East including Iran. Khamenei’s death was welcomed by the French government, while his killing was condemned by China. TASR writes about it according to the Reuters and AFP agencies.
“He led a campaign for the destruction of the State of Israel, created an entire axis of evil around us, and in Iran itself he promoted an uncompromising line against the State of Israel,” he said Get up to Khamenei’s address. “That’s why his elimination, along with many other senior and important officials, is a turning point,” declared Kac, according to a statement from his office.
According to Herzog, the military confrontation between Israel and Iran is “a historic opportunity to change the trajectory of the Middle East towards a different future, a future of peace.”
The killing of Khamenei on Sunday was welcomed by the French government. “Khamenei was a bloodthirsty dictator who oppressed his people, humiliated women, young people and minorities, and was recently responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in his country and in the region. Therefore, we can only be happy with his passing.” she said French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon for the French television RTL.
However, the death of Iran’s supreme leader was criticized by China. Foreign Minister Wang I declared that the blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the incitement to regime change in Iran are unacceptable. He also called for an immediate halt to military operations and a return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.
Leyen: Khamenei’s death gave hope back to the Iranian people
According to the President of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has given hope back to the Iranian people. According to her, it is important to ensure that Iranians shape their own future now. EU diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas called Khamenei’s killing a key moment in Iranian history. Both expressed themselves on the X social network, reports TASR.
“This moment carries with it a serious risk of instability that could plunge the region into a spiral of violence,” warned the head of the EC after a phone call with Jordanian King Abdullah II. “We are working with all key actors as well as our regional partners to ensure stability and security and protect civilian lives,” added.
“The death of Ali Khamenei is a pivotal moment in Iranian history,” she wrote Kallasova. “What comes next is uncertain. But the way is now open to a different Iran that its people can shape more freely.” said the head of EU diplomacy, who spoke by phone with the ministers of foreign affairs from the G7 group, Israel, Turkey, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar.
During Sunday, the heads of diplomacy of the EU member states will discuss Iran and the events in the Middle East at a special meeting of the Council for Foreign Affairs. The meeting will take place virtually.
