The global response varied widely upon hearing the news that Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic the day before.
Witnesses and verified video footage by AFP showed Iranians in the streets reacting with mixed emotions. Some cheered and celebrated with fireworks and music, while others gathered in Iran’s capital to mourn Khamenei’s death, dressed in black, shedding tears, and chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans in Enghelab (Revolution) Square, waving flags and displaying photos of the deceased leader.
Protesters in Istanbul marched against the war, carrying portraits of Khamenei and burning posters of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Seoul, South Korea, demonstrators held signs reading “Hands off Iran” outside the US embassy.
Similar demonstrations occurred in Hyderabad, India, and Athens, Greece, while the Iranian diaspora in Europe and the United States reportedly welcomed Khamenei’s demise.
China strongly condemned the killing, labeling it a breach of Iran’s sovereignty and international norms. Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the act as a violation of human morality and international law, reiterating his support for Tehran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Iranians to overthrow the regime following Khamenei’s death, while Pope Leo XIV called for an end to escalating violence. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the event as a “defining moment,” suggesting a potential for a new era in Iran.
UK Defence Secretary John Healey expressed little mourning for Khamenei, echoing sentiments from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. French government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon welcomed the news, labeling Khamenei as a “bloodthirsty dictator.”
