Kurdish, Iraqi leaders offer condolences to Iran over death of Khamenei

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Sunday extended condolences over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as Kurdish and Iraqi officials issued statements mourning his death and calling for restraint amid escalating regional tensions.

“We extend our deepest condolences and sympathies to the people, government, and leadership of Iran on the martyrdom of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a prominent religious scholar; we sympathize and share in their grief,” President Barzani said in a statement.

“We pray to Almighty God to bless his soul with His mercy and kindness and to grant patience and comfort to everyone,” the statement added.

President Barzani also underscored the need for "stability" and "the peaceful resolution of issues," calling on the international community to halt wars and clashes and restoring stability to the region.

Iranian state media confirmed Sunday that Khamenei was killed following US and Israeli strikes, alongside IRGC Commander Mohammad Pakpour and Defense Council chief Ali Shamkhani. The strikes came amid a sharp escalation that saw Iran launch retaliatory attacks targeting sites in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and the Kurdistan Region.

Sending his condolences from Baghdad, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid described Khamenei, in a statement released by the Iraqi Presidency, as “a pivotal figure" in the history of Iran, adding that he dedicated his life "to service and struggle for his country and people."

He further stressed Baghdad’s position on de-escalation.

“In these delicate circumstances through which the region is passing, we renew Iraq's steadfast position calling for an end to the war on Iran, the necessity of prioritizing the language of dialogue and de-escalation, and the prevention of further escalation that would exacerbate crises and threaten the security and stability of the peoples of the region,” the statement read.

“Iraq, which has long suffered from the woes of wars and conflicts, believes that political and diplomatic solutions are the ideal path to spare the region further tragedies,” Rashid added.

President of Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council Faiq Zidan also issued condolences, describing Khamenei as a “martyr” who “joined the ranks of his forefathers" and "his fellow martyrs."

“With his passing, the arena of right has lost one of its most distinguished knights and a great leader among its leaders,” Zidan said in a statement. “As we deeply feel the magnitude of this loss, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the Islamic nation and to the brotherly Iranian people.”

From the Kurdistan Region, Bafel Talabani, President of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said extended his "deepest condolences to the people of Iran and to all those mourning the loss of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials who were killed amid recent hostilities.”

In a statement, Talabani said they recognize "the profound grief and uncertainty these events have caused for families and communities across your nation and beyond."

“We continue to believe that only dialogue and responsible leadership can prevent further suffering and help foster lasting stability in our region,” he added.

The Islamic Dawa Party, led by former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki, described Khamenei as “a brilliant leader... and a profound jurist who illuminated the paths of hope and courage for millions.”

The Party described the killing of Khamenei as “a treacherous political assassination, as well as a blatant assault on Islam and its symbols,” adding that “the sinful perpetrators must bear the political and moral consequences of this crime and the surge of popular anger that will not subside.”

Following his death, Iranian state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei are set to oversee the country during the transition period. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told his Iraqi counterpart that Tehran’s response would target US military bases in the region and would be “limited to military sites,” according to the Iraqi Foreign Ministry.