Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and Vladimir Putin have expressed their condolences following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, amid escalating conflict in the Middle East.

According to the official website of the Russian Orthodox Church’s Department for External Church Relations, Patriarch Kirill sent a message to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, describing the late ayatollah as “a man of deep religious conviction, a spiritual and national leader, strong in spirit and character.”

The Patriarch asked that words of support and sympathy be conveyed to Khamenei’s family and loved ones, as well as to the Iranian people as a whole.

Condolences were also sent by President Putin, Russian state news agency TASS reported. In a telegram published on the Kremlin’s official website, the Russian leader stated that the killing of the ayatollah and his relatives was carried out “with cynical violation of all norms of human morality and international law.”

Putin expressed confidence that Khamenei would be remembered in Iran as a statesman who made a significant contribution to the development of Russian-Iranian relations and the strengthening of strategic partnership between the two countries.

The statements come against the backdrop of a sharp escalation in the region. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran, citing missile and nuclear threats from Tehran. Strikes reportedly targeted several major cities, including the capital. Iranian state television later announced the death of Khamenei.

Iranian authorities subsequently declared the formation of a temporary governing council pending the selection of a successor. In response to the operation, Iran carried out retaliatory strikes against Israeli targets and U.S. military bases in the region, further intensifying tensions across the Middle East.

Earlier, representatives of several international Christian organizations had called for de-escalation and emphasized the need for a diplomatic resolution to prevent further deterioration of the crisis.