Lavrov Condemns Killing of Iran's Leader as Unacceptable at UN General Assembly

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, accusing Western countries of destabilising the world through "force and double standards" and vowing that Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine would be "carried through to the end," according to the UN website. Quoting President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said "the dictatorship of a single hegemon has run amok and is simply dangerous for everyone around it," arguing that a fairer, multipolar order was emerging as countries of the Global South and East asserted themselves as "sovereign centres of development."

Lavrov condemned the United States' seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife earlier this year, and their "extrajudicial detention" in the US, calling for their immediate release. In a sharp rebuke of the war on Iran, he characterised the targeting of Iran's leadership as a profound violation of established diplomatic norms and a dangerous precedent that threatens global stability. He denounced the killing of Iran's Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with members of his family and military and political leadership, as "another unacceptable manifestation of coercive diktat."

He said the wider US-Israeli campaign had also struck Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, causing "irreparable damage" to the non-proliferation system overseen by the UN-backed nuclear energy watchdog. Lavrov's remarks at the UN General Assembly reflect Russia's continued criticism of Western policies and its support for a multipolar international order. The statement also underscores Moscow's opposition to military actions against Iran and its leadership.

According to Mehr News, Lavrov's address included strong condemnation of the assassination of Iran's Leader and other officials, framing it as part of a broader pattern of coercive actions by the US and its allies. The report by Mehr News added that Lavrov's speech at the UN General Assembly highlighted Russia's position on global stability and the need for adherence to international norms.