Moscow: The Kremlin issued its strongest statement yet on the escalating Israel-Iran conflict, warning that any attempt to orchestrate regime change in Iran or assassinate Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would be "unacceptable" and dangerously destabilizing. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov made the remarks during an interview with Sky News, drawing a sharp line against Western and Israeli involvement in Iran’s internal leadership.
Responding to speculation about a possible Israeli or U.S.-assisted operation targeting Khamenei, Peskov said such an act would be met with deep disapproval from Moscow. “Very negatively, we would strongly disapprove it,” he told Sky News journalist Ivor Bennett. “It would lead to an action coming from inside Iran… the birth of extremist moods in Iran and those who are speaking about (killing Khamenei), they should keep it in mind.”
The Kremlin further emphasized that the idea of regime change in Iran was “unimaginable” and that even discussing such a move should be considered off-limits. “It should be unacceptable, even talking about that should be unacceptable for everyone,” Peskov said. His words appear to reflect not only Moscow’s stance on sovereignty but also a clear message to the West: Iran’s current regime is a red line for Russia.
Russia’s firm defense of Tehran is grounded in a strategic alliance that has grown stronger in recent years, particularly following Moscow’s own geopolitical isolation after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Iran and Russia have deepened military and diplomatic cooperation, with Iran providing drones and other support to Russia’s war efforts, while Moscow has offered Tehran vital political backing in the face of Western sanctions.
This latest statement marks a clear positioning by Russia amid the volatile and widening conflict in the Middle East. As Israel continues its strikes inside Iran, and global powers weigh intervention, the Kremlin’s message serves as a stark warning: any external attempts to alter Iran’s leadership could ignite a new, far more uncontrollable chapter in an already dangerous regional crisis.
