Russia Faces Losses as US and Israel Strike Iran, Killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

It was a question President Vladimir Putin did not want to answer: What if the U.S. or Israel assassinated Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Back then, in June of last year, the scenario was hypothetical. The two countries had just attacked Iran in an effort to destroy its nuclear program and kill top its leaders, and President Donald Trump said the U.S. knew Khamenei’s location. At the annual St. Petersburg Economic Forum, a reporter wanted to know how Russia would respond to what might happen next . “If I may, I hope that this will be the most correct answer to your question,” Putin said . “I do not even want to discuss this possibility. I do not want to.” On Saturday, the situation that was perhaps too troubling for Putin to contemplate became reality. In a massive show of force, the U.S. and Israel struck military sites and decimated Iran’s surviving leadership. Whether Khamenei was among those killed was an open question until reports of his death began emerging late in the day — first from Israel, then from Trump, then from Iran itself. Iran is one of Russia’s strongest allies on the international stage, and analysts say the attacks could have profound implications for their relationship. With Khamenei dead and the future of the Islamic republic’s hardline anti-Western government in doubt, Russia now finds itself in a position to lose greatly. The only question is, how much? When other allies have been ousted in recent years, Putin has not immediately commented.