Iraq’s Presidency mourns Khamenei, calls for halt to war on Iran

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Presidency expressed condolences Sunday over the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and a number of Iranian officials, renewing its call to stop the war against Iran and prevent further regional escalation.

“With deep sorrow and grief, we received the news of the martyrdom of His Eminence the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Sayyid Ali Khamenei, and a number of Iranian leaders,” the Presidency said, describing him as “a pivotal figure in the history of the Islamic Republic” whose name was linked to “critical milestones in the course of the contemporary Iranian state.”

The statement affirmed “Iraq’s solidarity with the Iranian people in this grave loss” and renewed Iraq’s call for “a halt to the war on Iran, the need to prioritize the language of dialogue and de-escalation, and to prevent escalation that would exacerbate crises and threaten the security and stability of the peoples of the region.”

“Iraq, which has long suffered from the scourge of wars and conflicts, believes that political and diplomatic solutions are the best way to spare the region further tragedies,” it said.

The Presidency’s statement follows similar condolences from the Iraqi government, which declared three days of nationwide mourning and called Khamenei’s killing “a blatant aggression” that breaches international law. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani also offered condolences, urging Iranians to preserve unity. Pro-Iran demonstrators attempted to storm Baghdad’s Green Zone on Sunday, and several Iran-aligned armed factions have threatened attacks on U.S. bases.