Anthony Albanese’s brutal message after Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei is killed in US airstrike

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei will ‘not be mourned’ after he was killed in US airstrikes.

Albanese accused the hardline cleric of overseeing brutal repression at home and destabilising aggression abroad.

‘Ayatollah Khamenei was responsible for the regime’s nuclear program, support for armed proxies and its brutal violence against its own people,’ he said on Sunday.

‘This claimed countless lives in Iran, but also internationally. He was responsible for orchestrating attacks on Australian soil.

‘His passing will not be mourned.’

The pointed remarks mark one of the toughest foreign policy statements of Albanese’s prime ministership, cutting through the usually cautious language leaders adopt upon the death of a foreign head of state.

Khamenei, who ruled with an iron grip for decades, oversaw Iran’s contested nuclear ambitions, backed powerful regional proxy groups and presided over sweeping crackdowns on anti-government protests.

Human rights organisations have long accused Tehran of violent repression, mass arrests and executions during periods of civil unrest.

His comments come amid heightened global uncertainty over what Khamenei’s death could mean for the Middle East power balance and who will ultimately succeed him. 

When asked about whether Australia should offer more support for the change of regime in Iran after the US-Israel offensive, Albanese said it was a ‘matter for the Iranian people’.

‘I understand there are thousands of Australians with loved ones in the Middle East,’ he said.

‘The days ahead are going to be difficult,’ he said.

‘My government’s priority remains the safety of Australians in the region. The government will do all we can to keep Australians safe and our personnel who are there in the region, as well.’

Albanese said he was concerned about escalation.

‘We support the states acting to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to prevent Iran from continuing threaten international peace security,’ he said.

‘We are concerned (about) regional escalation and urge the protection of civilians for those on the ground.

‘Australian officials are closely monitoring what is an evolving situation, unfolding rapidly.

‘It is critical that anyone in the region takes note of the Smartraveller website for the most up to date information that we can provide, we continue to urge Australians not to travel (there) and to leave Iran as soon as possible.’

When asked earlier if Australia was prepared to send troops, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia ‘did not participate in the strikes and you would not expect us to participate’.

Asked to clarify if she was ruling it out, she added ‘you would not expect us… to participate’.

Speaking on Sky News WA Liberal MP and former SAS veteran Andrew Hastie said US President Donald Trump’s decision to strike was unsurprising as he labelled him ‘an apex opportunist’ but added he held concerns on the change of regime by force.

‘I’m not surprised that President Trump has taken this action along with Prime Minister Netanyahu,’ he said.

‘There’s a lot of risk and as a veteran of the so-called Forever Wars, I’m very suspicious about regime change by force.

‘But Iran has a terrible regime – they’re a proxy, they’re underwritten by Chinese and Russian tech.

‘So, this is also a demonstration by President Trump that he is re-establishing deterrence and he’s also going to send a message to some of his other geopolitical competitors that US military technology is superior.

‘He made that point after Venezuela, defeating Russian and Chinese tech in their air defences. I assume the same point will be made post this operation as well.’

Iranian state media confirmed the death of its supreme leader, hours after Trump did so on social media.

‘The supreme leader of Iran has reached martyrdom,’ state broadcaster IRIB reported.

Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were also killed in US and Israeli strikes.

‘After establishing contact with informed sources in the Supreme Leader’s household, the news of the martyrdom of the daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter of the Revolutionary Leader has unfortunately been confirmed,’ Fars news agency reported.

During an emergency session of the UN Security Council, Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack, warning it could destabilise the region.

The session was divided with US and Israeli representatives insisting the attack was in the world’s best interest while Iranian counterpart Amir Saeid Iravani denounced it as a ‘war crime’.

‘It is regrettable that some members of this body, in a blatant double standard, disregard the flagrant act of aggression committed by the US and Israel on Iran, and condemn Iran for using its inherent right to self-defence in the UN Charter,’ he said.

Australian citizens, permanent residents and their families who are in Israel and Iran have been urged to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.