Russia to West: Don’t light the fuse – killing Khamenei risks global collapse

In a rare foreign media interview on Friday, June 20, 2025, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Sky News that Russia would react “very negatively” to any assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He warned that his death would open a dangerous “Pandora’s box” and potentially fuel a surge in extremist movements within Iran and across the region

The interview took place in the opulent Constantine Palace near Saint Petersburg, as tensions in the Middle East reached new heights.

The backdrop: U.S. President Donald Trump had announced he would decide within two weeks whether the U.S. would join Israel’s campaign against Iran, just days after he publicly mused that Khamenei could be assassinated.

Peskov was direct and stern: “An enlargement of the composition of the participants of the conflict is potentially even more dangerous…and it will lead only to another circle of confrontation and escalation.”

He emphasized that such a scenario posed risks not just regionally, but globally

Why Russia Is Alarming the World

1. Strategic Alliance at Risk

Russia and Iran forged a strategic partnership earlier this year, bolstering military and diplomatic ties.

Peskov’s strong reaction shows Moscow’s determination to protect a key ally and deter Western-influenced regime change

2. Destabilisation Domino

Peskov cautioned that removing Iran’s Supreme Leader risks plunging the region into chaos, with extremist factions likely to seize control in Tehran.

Globally, this could trigger a cascade of violent turmoil .

3. Diplomatic Flashpoint

By addressing the issue in such blunt terms, Russia signals to both Washington and Tel Aviv that any plot to kill Khamenei crosses a red line.

This supposedly will be potentially drawing Moscow into direct involvement should things spiral out of control.

Context: New Extremes in a Growing Conflict

The comment comes amid escalating regional strife: Israel has struck multiple targets in Iran—including military and nuclear sites—prompting missile barrages from Tehran into Israeli cities like Haifa and Beersheba, which injured civilians

In response, Israel’s Defense Minister escalated rhetoric by calling Khamenei “modern Hitler” and stating he “can no longer be allowed to exist”

Meanwhile, President Trump has hinted that he’ll decide within two weeks whether the U.S. will enter the conflict timeline, stating there was a “substantial chance” diplomacy might avert war .

Stakes: What Russia’s Warning Really Means

Impact Details

Regional Security Russia sees a Khamenei assassination as a trigger for broader regional war, with its own military

Global Diplomacy Moscow is sending a message: treat this as a global crisis, not just a regional one.

Escalation Risk With multiple powers potentially entering the conflict, the crisis could spin into a full-blown geopolitical clash.

Why This Matters to the World

Risk of Wider War: Analysts say killing Iran’s Supreme Leader could ignite a multi-front war involving Iran’s allies – Hezbollah, Syria, Iraq—and global powers like Russia, the U.S., and China.

Bridge to Proxy Battles: Such a move could supercharge regional rivalries, from Yemen to Lebanon, and embolden extremist factions.

Global Markets at Risk: Any major escalation threatens energy platforms and financial markets, pushing commodity prices higher.

Test for International Governance: This isn’t just about Iran—it challenges the global system of checks and balances trying to curb lawless violence.

Bottom Line

Russia’s cautionary comments expose how fragile current diplomacy is.

With Trump contemplating U.S. involvement and Israel escalating strikes, Peskov’s warning was a stark reminder: eliminating Khamenei is not a tactical move—it risks triggering a wildfire across the broader Middle East and beyond.

For readers worldwide, this is more than a regional headline, it’s a test of whether global leaders can step back from the brink or get pulled into a conflict that could define this century.

The spotlight now turns to the next two weeks: will cooler heads prevail, or will the conversation shift from war to world-shaking calamity?

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