Top European Union officials said on Sunday that the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes could open a new chapter for the country, but warned it carries serious risks of regional instability.
EU High Representative Kaja Kallas described Khamenei’s death as “a defining moment in Iran’s history,” while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it offered “renewed hope for the people of Iran.”
“At the same time, this moment carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence,” von der Leyen added. She said Brussels was engaging closely with “all key actors” to safeguard stability and security and to protect civilian lives.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“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 wrote on social media following a call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.
READ ALSO:
Iran Appoints Interim Leadership Council After Khamenei’s Death
Kallas said she was also in contact with regional partners “that bear the brunt of Iran’s military actions” to explore practical steps for de-escalation.
“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 wrote on X.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
