ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday extended condolences to the government and people of Iran over the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in large-scale US–Israeli strikes.
President Zardari, in a statement, said he was profoundly grieved over the death of Ayatollah Khamenei and other members of Iran’s senior leadership who were killed alongside him.
He stated that Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.
He prayed for the departed souls and asked Almighty Allah to grant patience and fortitude to the people of Iran during this difficult time.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei and senior Iranian leaders, conveying heartfelt condolences and prayers for patience and strength to the Government and people of Iran during this period of grief.
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) March 1, 2026
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended condolences to Iran following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in large-scale US–Israeli strikes.
In a post on X, PM Sharif said: “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.”
He also expressed concern over violations of international norms.
“It is an age-old convention that the Heads of State/Government should not be targeted,” PM Sharif wrote. “We pray for the departed soul. May Allah Almighty grant patience and strength to the Iranian people to bear this irreparable loss.”
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.Pakistan also expresses concern over violation of the norms of…
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 1, 2026
President Zardari and PM Sharif’s statements came hours after Iranian state media confirmed Khamenei’s death in joint US and Israeli strikes on Tehran.
Iranian state television announced early Sunday that Khamenei had been killed at his compound in Tehran.
The judiciary’s Mizan news portal reported that several senior officials were also killed during a Defence Council meeting targeted in Saturday’s attacks.
Those reported killed included Iran’s armed forces chief of staff Abdolrahim Mousavi, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour, senior security official Ali Shamkhani, and Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, according to Mizan.
A presenter on state television confirmed Khamenei’s death at 5:00 am (0130 GMT). The channel broadcast archive footage with a black banner in mourning.
🎥 لحظهٔ اعلام شهادت رهبر معظم انقلاب در تلویزیون https://t.co/Jmu6dbo79j pic.twitter.com/5qNJPDDrNb
— خبرگزاری فارس (@FarsNews_Agency) March 1, 2026
Iranian state media said Khamenei “was carrying out his assigned duties and was present at his workplace (his office)” when the attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday.
Iran has announced 40 days of public mourning.
In a statement carried by Reuters, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said: “We have lost a great leader, and we are mourning him — a leader who was unique in terms of purity of spirit, strength of faith, resourcefulness in affairs, courage in the face of the arrogant, and jihad in the path of God.”
The semi-official Fars News Agency reported that members of Khamenei’s family — including his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter — were also killed in the strikes.
Fars said the deaths were confirmed after contact was established with informed sources within the Supreme Leader’s residence.
“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 and other Iranian media outlets reported.
