Türkiye’s president calls for diplomacy after Khamenei killed in strikes

President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed condolences following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, amid rapidly escalating regional tensions.

In a message published on his Telegram channel, Erdoğan wrote: “I am deeply saddened by the death of our neighbour, Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a result of yesterday’s attacks. On behalf of my country and my people, I extend my condolences to the brotherly Iranian people.”

He also pledged to continue efforts aimed at ending the Middle East conflict and restoring diplomacy.

Erdoğan’s statement came after large-scale strikes carried out on February 28, when Israel and the United States targeted facilities inside Iran. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz described the operation as a “preemptive strike,” while US officials later confirmed Washington’s participation. US President Donald Trump subsequently called on Iran’s armed forces to lay down their weapons and urged the country’s population to “take their destiny into their own hands.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were numerous indications that Khamenei had been killed during the operation. On March 1, Israel Katz officially announced that the Iranian Supreme Leader had died as a result of the Israeli strike.

In response, Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israeli territory as well as US military bases across the Middle East. Israel later declared a state of emergency, while Iranian counterstrikes also affected other countries in the region, underscoring the widening scope of the confrontation.

By Tamilla Hasanova