Headlines
Kremlin Condemns US-Israeli 'murder' of Iran’s Leaders After Ali Larijani Killing
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
Russia denounces the US–Israeli airstrike that killed Iran’s senior adviser Ali Larijani as a politically motivated assassination, insists on diplomacy, and dismisses reports of military cooperation with Iran.
Kremlin Condemns US-Israeli 'Murder' of Iran’s Leaders After Larijani Killing
Kremlin Response to the Killing of Ali Larijani
Details of the Incident
MOSCOW, March 18 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday condemned what it called "the murder" of Iran's leaders in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, a day after Iran's semi-official Fars news agency confirmed that Ali Larijani, a senior adviser to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed in Tehran.
Kremlin's Official Statement
"We unequivocally condemn any actions aimed at harming the health of, or indeed murdering or eliminating, members of the leadership of sovereign and independent Iran, as well as those of other countries. We condemn such actions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Russia's reaction to Larijani's death.
Russia-Iran Relations and Regional Impact
Nuclear Cooperation and Criticism of Airstrikes
Russia, which built and helps run Iran's only nuclear power station, has strongly criticised the U.S.-Israeli air strikes against Iran, a close partner, and has called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations.
Military and Intelligence Collaboration
Reports of Intelligence Sharing
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported on Tuesday that Russia has been expanding its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Tehran, providing satellite imagery and improved drone technology to aid Iran’s targeting of U.S. forces in the region.
Kremlin's Response to Media Reports
Asked about the media report, Peskov suggested it was fake news: ‘As you know, there are currently a great many different reports circulating about this war. The vast majority are nothing more than disinformation, so we do not consider it necessary to comment on each and every one of them."
"However, official representatives of the United States have made statements on this matter, saying themselves that they have no information on the subject," he added.
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Andrew Osborn Editing by Guy Faulconbridge)
Key Takeaways
- •Kremlin firmly condemned the killing of Ali Larijani as the unlawful "murder" of a sovereign nation's leader, reaffirming Russia's broader stance against assassinations of state officials.
- •In the context of renewed escalation, Russia reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire and return to negotiations, positioning itself as advocating diplomacy amid global tensions.
- •Reports of enhanced military cooperation—including intelligence sharing and drone technology—were downplayed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who labeled them likely disinformation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kremlin condemns US-Israeli 'murder' of Iran’s leaders after Ali Larijani killing
1What was Russia's reaction to Ali Larijani's killing?
The Kremlin condemned what it called the 'murder' of Iran's leaders in US-Israeli airstrikes, emphasizing opposition to violence against sovereign Iran.
2Who was Ali Larijani?
Ali Larijani was a senior adviser to Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, recently killed in Tehran.
3How does Russia support Iran?
Russia built and helps run Iran's only nuclear power station and engages in intelligence and military cooperation with Iran.
4What did Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov say about media reports on Iran?
Peskov suggested that many war-related reports are disinformation and declined to comment on media claims about Russian-Iranian cooperation.
5What action is Russia calling for after the attack on Iran’s leaders?
Russia has called for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations following the airstrikes.
