Erdogan Responds to Death of Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Iranian leader was killed as a result of waves of airstrikes by the United States and Israel against Iran over the past weekend.

“I am saddened to learn of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as a result of the attacks that occurred yesterday,” Erdogan said in a post on the X platform on Sunday (1 March 2026). He also conveyed Turkey’s “sympathy” to the Iranian people.

Ankara emphasised that it remains neutral in the conflict that has escalated since Saturday. Erdogan is reported to have conducted telephone communications with US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to ease the escalation.

“We are concerned about attacks that openly violate Iran’s sovereignty and threaten the peace of our brother nation of Iran. At the same time, we consider it unacceptable that Iran launches missile and drone attacks against our brother nations in the Gulf, regardless of the reasons,” Erdogan stated in a separate statement.

Iran previously vowed to retaliate following Khamenei’s death amid ongoing exchanges with Israel, triggered by sudden bombing strikes by the US and Israel. The US military reported that three of its personnel have been killed, marking the first US casualties in the conflict.

Iranian authorities stated that more than 200 people have been killed since the start of the attacks, which also claimed the lives of several senior leaders. Iran responded by launching missiles at Israel and Arab Gulf states, whilst Israel stated it would conduct “relentless” strikes against Iranian leadership and military forces.