The Kremlin has issued a stern warning against any attempt to destabilise Iran’s leadership, calling regime change in the Islamic Republic “unacceptable” and warning that the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would unleash uncontrollable consequences.
In an interview with foreign media Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that Russia would react “very negatively” should the Iranian leader be killed. His remarks come amid mounting speculation about possible U.S. involvement in Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran, and following comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said a decision would be made within two weeks on whether to support the Israeli operation.
“The situation is extremely tense and is dangerous not only for the region but globally,” said Mr Peskov, speaking 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.”
These are the most forceful comments to date from Moscow regarding the current escalation between Israel and Iran. Russian officials have watched developments closely, concerned by the possibility that Iran — one of its key allies in the Middle East — could be destabilised or drawn into a wider war.
Russia has significantly deepened its ties with Iran since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In January this year, the two countries signed a formal strategic partnership agreement, solidifying cooperation across economic, military, and political domains.
“[Regime change in Iran] is unimaginable. It should be unacceptable, even talking about that should be unacceptable for everyone,” Mr Peskov told the broadcaster, making an oblique reference to Washington.
Asked what Russia’s response might be if Ayatollah Khamenei were assassinated, Mr Peskov declined to offer specifics, but warned it would trigger instability from within Iran itself. “It would lead to the birth of extremist moods inside Iran, and those who are speaking about [killing Khamenei], they should keep it in mind. They will open the Pandora’s box.”
President Trump’s rhetoric — including a remark earlier this week in which he appeared to dismiss Vladimir Putin’s offer to mediate in the Israel-Iran conflict — has further aggravated tensions between Washington and Moscow. According to Mr Trump, he told Mr Putin to “mediate your own [conflict],” referring to the war in Ukraine.
Mr Peskov, in response, dismissed the comment as unoffensive. “Everyone has a different language,” he said. “President Trump has his own unique way of speaking and his unique language. We are quite tolerant and expect everyone to be tolerant of us.”
Moscow’s strategic interest in Iran is twofold: first, as a source of drones and military hardware for its war effort in Ukraine; second, as a counterweight to Western influence in the broader Middle East. Any political upheaval in Tehran could disrupt that balance.
In parallel to its diplomatic positioning on Iran, Russia continues to intensify its military campaign in Ukraine. The Russian armed forces have carried out a series of missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other major cities in recent weeks. Fourteen people were killed in overnight attacks earlier this week, including an American citizen.
Asked whether Moscow would consider a temporary ceasefire, Mr Peskov said Russia would only agree to such a measure if Ukraine’s Western backers halted arms deliveries — a condition that Western leaders have consistently rejected.
“Now we have a strategic advantage. Why should we lose it? We are not going to lose it,” Mr Peskov said. “We are going further. We’re advancing and we’ll continue to advance.”
Pressed on whether Russia would use a ceasefire to regroup — as it has previously accused Ukraine of doing — Mr Peskov stated, “A ceasefire is a ceasefire, and you stop. But America is not saying that ‘we’ll quit any supplies’. Britain is not saying that as well. France is not saying that as well. This is the problem.”
Mr Peskov also dismissed suggestions that Russia was isolated diplomatically. Despite continued Western sanctions, trade with Iran and other partners has expanded, and efforts to sidestep sanctions — such as through intermediary countries — remain a feature of Moscow’s economic strategy.
With U.S. policy towards Iran entering a critical phase, and Russia’s military focus still fixed on Ukraine, the Kremlin appears determined to safeguard its alliances and resist what it sees as Western attempts to redraw the geopolitical order by force.
For Moscow, the prospect of regime change in Tehran is not merely a regional issue — it is viewed as part of a wider Western strategy of pressure that, if left unchecked, could eventually be directed toward Russia itself.
Read also:
Trump Sets Two-Week Deadline on Iran Decision Amid Rising Middle East Tensions
