Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 1, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 2, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleEU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas hailed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on March 1, 2026 as a “defining moment,” saying it opens a path toward a different, potentially freer Iran amid efforts to de‑escalate regional tensions.
BRUSSELS, March 1 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday that the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was "a defining moment in Iran’s history".
"What comes next is uncertain. But there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape," Kallas said on social media platform X.
"I’m in contact with partners, including those in the region that bear the brunt of Iran’s military actions, to find practical steps for de-escalation."
Khamenei was killed on Saturday, Iranian state media announced, in Israeli and U.S. air strikes that pulverised his central Tehran compound.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that she spoke with Jordan's King Abdullah and that Europe stands "in full solidarity" with Jordan after Iranian strikes.
"With Khamenei gone, there is renewed hope for the people of Iran. We must ensure that the future is theirs to claim and shape," Von der Leyen said X.
"At the same time, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence."
(Reporting by Lili Bayer Editing by David Goodman)
Kaja Kallas called Khamenei's death a defining moment in Iran's history and stated there is now an open path to a different Iran.
Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. air strikes that targeted his compound in Tehran, according to Iranian state media.
EU leaders are in contact with regional partners to seek de-escalation and have expressed solidarity with affected countries like Jordan.
She mentioned the risk of instability and the potential for a spiral of violence in the region after Khamenei’s death.
EU leaders expressed hope that Iranians may have greater freedom to shape their own future with Khamenei gone.
Explore more articles in the Headlines category
