Pakistan ‘concerned over violation’ of international law after Iran's Khamenei killed

KARACHI, Pakistan / DHAKA, Bangladesh

Pakistan on Sunday expressed concern over the “violation” of international law after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli airstrikes.

“The government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in a statement.

“Pakistan also expresses concern over violation of the norms of international law. It is an age-old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted,” added the statement posted on US social media company X, without naming either the US or Israel.

Tehran early Sunday announced the death of Khamenei, 86, following US-Israeli bombardment on the Iranian capital on Saturday.

It also declared 40 days of public mourning in the country.

Ahead of Tehran’s confirmation, US President Donald Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform Truth Social that Khamenei was dead.

Also on Sunday, Sharif said he spoke to Jordan's King Abdullah II to “discuss the evolving situation in the Middle East.”

“We emphasized the urgent need for restraint, dialogue, and de-escalation to preserve peace and stability,” he said.

Sharif also spoke to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain, during which he “emphasized restraint, respect for international law, and the urgent need for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace and stability in the region.”

The prime minister also postponed his scheduled visit to Russia in the wake of the escalating situation in the Middle East.

- Bangladesh expresses concern

Bangladesh expressed concern on Sunday over the escalation in the Middle East, expressing hope that “peace, security, and stability will be restored” across the region.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said it was “deeply concerned” about the safety and security of Bangladeshi nationals residing in Iran.

Dhaka also condemned the violation of the sovereignty of “Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.”

Separately, Afghanistan expressed “deep regret” over US, Israeli and Iranian airstrikes.

In a statement, Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said the Afghan government expresses “deep regret regarding the attacks against Iran by Israel and the United States, and its subsequent expansion involving Gulf countries being targeted by Iran.”

Urging a halt to military actions, Balkhi condemned the violation of national sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as the killing of innocent civilians in Iran and the wider Gulf region.