JK Expresses Sorrow Over the Death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian media reported that Khamenei died following a US and Israeli military attack on Tehran, the nation’s capital, on Saturday, 28 February 2026.
“We are certainly very sad that Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei, has passed away,” JK said to journalists at his private residence in South Jakarta on Sunday, 1 March 2026.
He acknowledged that Iran’s political dynamics have been turbulent. According to JK, there are at least three major factions in Iran.
The first is the group supporting the government. The second is the group pushing for change or reform. JK noted that the reform-supporting faction has been involved in various demonstrations in recent months. The third is the old monarchist group linked to the Pahlavi dynasty.
“However, killing a leader, Ali Khamenei, is something we deeply regret. We grieve and mourn over this,” JK said.
JK also touched on Indonesia’s role in responding to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. JK believed that, as a country with a Muslim-majority population, Indonesia should call for a halt to the conflict.
Israel launched an unprovoked attack against Iran on Saturday morning, 28 February 2026. The attack on Iran was described as a joint military operation between the US and Israel.
Iranian state media, Fars, stated that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed. According to Sky News, Iran announced a national 40-day mourning period following his death at his office early Saturday. At least four buildings in the supreme leader’s residential complex in central Tehran were struck by bombs on Saturday, 28 February 2026, as part of a massive US-Israel offensive against Iran.
Besides Khamenei, several family members were killed in the attack. Al Arabiya reported, citing reliable sources within the supreme leader’s family, that a daughter, a son-in-law, a grandson, and a daughter-in-law of Khamenei were among the fatalities.