JK Expresses Sadness Over Death of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei in US-Israel Attack
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has been reported killed in a combined military assault by Israel and the United States (US) on Iran. Jusuf Kalla (JK), Indonesia’s 10th and 12th Vice President, expressed sadness over Ali Khamenei’s death in the incident.
“During this holy month of Ramadan, we feel very concerned about the many wars in the world, particularly affecting the Islamic world. Yesterday we learned how America and Israel attacked Iran. Yet Iran and America were in negotiations,” JK told reporters at his residence in South Jakarta on Sunday (1 March 2026).
He stated that from an ethical standpoint, Iran and the US were in the negotiation stage. JK lamented that in this situation, the US and Israel proceeded to attack Iran.
“Ethically, if you are in negotiations, you should not attack, right? This is indeed a situation that deeply concerns all of us because it demonstrates America’s tendency to attack anything that does not align with its views,” he explained.
JK expressed sadness over Khamenei’s death from the US-Israel attack. Nevertheless, JK also acknowledged the upheaval and demonstrations regarding Khamenei’s leadership.
“We are certainly very saddened that Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei has died. Although of course there is also upheaval within Iran itself. There are three groups in Iran: the government group, also a group that wants reform after 39 years—we know there have been many demonstrations in the past month,” he said.
He noted that two groups in Iran were pleased with Ali Khamenei’s death. However, JK maintained his condolences and lamented the death of Iran’s supreme leader.
“Then there is the old Pahlavi monarchy group. Well, these two groups are certainly pleased with this situation. So not everything in Iran is unified. Nevertheless, killing the leader Ali Khamenei is something we very much regret and we are saddened and mourn because of it,” he said.
“And Indonesia, as a country with a Muslim majority, especially during this month of Ramadan, certainly endeavours to at least call for and pray for this situation to stop immediately. Because achieving peace is very difficult and we cannot do it as we might hope,” he concluded.
Previously, the US and Israel launched a large-scale operation on Saturday (28 February). They targeted command and control facilities of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), ballistic missile and drone launch sites, military airfields, and Iran’s air defence systems.
Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that the combined attack killed over 200 people in Iran and wounded nearly 750 others. The attack struck 24 of Iran’s 31 provinces.
The US Central Command (Centcom) said it was investigating reports that the attack struck a girls’ school in southern Iran, which according to Iranian officials killed over 100 schoolgirls. The Israeli Air Force also conducted the largest military air operation in the history of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), with over 200 jets attacking Iranian missile sites and IRGC air bases.
The IDF stated it had struck air defence systems in western and central Iran. The IDF claimed to have attacked more than 500 targets, including Iranian missile launchers and air defence systems.
The US and Israeli attack killed a number of Iranian senior officials. One of them was Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.