International Lawmakers, world leaders react to Khamenei’s death after Iran strikes by Ryan Mancini - 02/28/26 11:03 PM ET by Ryan Mancini - 02/28/26 11:03 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran was met with praise from some lawmakers and world leaders, and left others condemning the Trump administration and declaring its actions illegal. Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-Ariz.), the only Iranian American member of Congress, called Khamenei the “epitome of evil” and said, “No one should mourn him and his death is a relief.” “But removing one man does not dismantle a brutal regime,” she wrote on the social platform X. “Military force alone will not secure a democratic future for the Iranian people, and it risks putting U.S. troops in further danger if there is no serious plan for what comes next. An action of this magnitude demands strategy, clarity, and a credible path forward.” Former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) accused President Trump of focusing his attention on Iran rather than on the cost of living and said Saturday’s attack did not align with his “America First” policy. “Great Mr President. Good job,” she wrote in a lengthy statement on X, attaching a screenshot of Trump’s Truth Social post confirming Khamenei’s death. “You’re a billionaire and the American people, not the Iranian people, who voted for you are not billionaires.” Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called the “Trump-Netanyahu war,” referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one that “is unconstitutional and violates international law.” “It endangers the lives of U.S. troops and people across the region,” Sanders wrote on X . “We’ve lived through the lies of Vietnam and Iraq. No more endless wars. Congress must pass a War Powers Resolution immediately.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a longtime war hawk and critic of Iran’s regime, said he was “so proud of President Trump and his team.” He wrote on X that Trump was “moving into a league of his own as a Republican foreign policy president” and has “become the gold standard for foreign policy achievements as a Republican president.” Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Iranian crown prince and son of Iran’s last shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, said Khamenei “has been erased from the pages of history” and the regime that usurped his father “has effectively come to an end and will soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.” “This marks the beginning of our great national celebration; but it is not the end of the road,” he wrote in a translated X post . “Stay vigilant and prepared. The time for a massive and decisive presence in the streets is very near.” Ukraine’s official X account , meanwhile, shared a post that read, “nothing beats the death of a dictator.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters that Khamenei “will not be mourned.” “Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was responsible for the regime’s ballistic missile and nuclear program, support for armed proxies and its brutal acts of violence and intimidation against its own people,” Albanese said, according to the Times of Israel . Add as preferred source on Google Tags Ali Khamenei Anthony Albanese Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Benjamin Netanyahu Bernie Sanders Donald Trump Lindsey Graham Marjorie Taylor Greene Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More International News See All International US-Israeli strikes on Iran result in Khamenei’s death: Five things to know by Ryan Mancini 3 hours ago International  /  3 hours ago