Cliff Notes
- Russia warns the US that regime change in Iran is unacceptable and warns that the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would have severe global repercussions.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that such an act could lead to a rise in extremism within Iran and escalate tensions in the region.
- Russia has strengthened its ties with Iran since the Ukraine conflict, viewing the potential loss of its ally as a serious concern.
Russia warns the US that regime change in Iran ‘unacceptable’
Regime change in Iran is “unacceptable” and the assassination of the country’s Supreme Leader would “open the Pandora’s box”, the Kremlin has said.
In a rare interview with a foreign media organisation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that Russia would react “very negatively” if Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
The comments came as US President Donald Trump said he will decide within two weeks whether America will join Israel’s military campaign against Tehran, after earlier speculating on social media about killing the Iranian leader.
“The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally,” Mr Peskov said in an interview at the Constantine Palace in Saint Petersburg.
“An enlargement of the composition of the participants of the conflict is potentially even more dangerous.
“It will lead only to another circle of confrontation and escalation of tension in the region.”
They are the Kremlin’s strongest comments yet regarding the Israel-Iran conflict, which has stoked fears in Moscow that it could be on the verge of losing its closest ally in the Middle East.
Russia has deepened its ties with Iran since invading Ukraine, and the two countries signed a strategic partnership in January.
“[Regime change in Iran] is unimaginable. It should be unacceptable, even talking about that should be unacceptable for everyone,” Mr Peskov said, in a thinly veiled reference to Washington.
Sources
Russia would react ‘negatively’ if Iran’s leader is killed, says the Kremlin – Sky News
Iranian regime collapse would be serious blow for Russia – The Guardian
Russia fears another loss in Middle East from Iran’s conflict with Israel – BBC