World Leaders Urge Swift End to Iran Crisis After Khamenei Death

Article content(Bloomberg) — Global leaders called for a quick resolution to the crisis in the Middle East as US allies backed the decision to target Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle content“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,” Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters Sunday. “His passing will not be mourned.”Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentJudgments about the legality of the weekend strikes on Iran are a question for the US and others directly involved in the action, though Iran’s regime posed a real threat to international peace and security, Albanese said. “We hope that the actions that have been taken lead to a swift resolution,” he said.Article contentArticle contentChina called for an immediate ceasefire Saturday, before confirmation of Khamenei’s death. An end to military operations is necessary to “avoid further escalation of tensions, to resume dialogue and negotiations, and to safeguard peace and stability in the Middle East,” a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a statement.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentMalaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim called for an “immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities,” and urged the US and Iran to “pursue a diplomatic off-ramp rather than further escalation.”Article content“The Israeli strikes on Iran, and the American military action that has accompanied them, bring the Middle East to the edge of catastrophe,” Anwar wrote in a Facebook post Saturday. “Israel’s initiation of these strikes was a vile attempt to sabotage ongoing negotiations and to drag other nations into a conflict that could prove impossible to contain.”Article contentSingapore Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Saturday that the crisis is likely to affect energy prices and have an impact on countries far away from the Middle East. “You can see how the war starts, but it is very hard to tell how the war will end,” he said at an event in Singapore.Article contentArticle contentIran’s regime had defied the expectations of the international community for decades and lost the support of the country’s people, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Sunday in a statement.Article content“We join the international community in hoping this crisis ends as quickly as possible,” they said. “We call for a resumption of negotiations and adherence to international law — and we urge the Iranian leadership to seek a negotiated solution.”Article contentAustralia is in contact with international partners and stressing the “need to avoid, if at all possible, a broader regional escalation,” Foreign Minister Penny Wong told reporters Sunday in Adelaide. The nation is not participating in the strikes, she said.Article content—With assistance from Netty Ismail and Philip J. Heijmans.Article contentTrending The (high) opportunity cost of paying off your mortgage early Mortgages Feds to invest millions in startup accelerator to boost Canadian defence and dual-use companies Innovation Posthaste: Canadians' new retirement savings goal of $1.7 million looks increasingly unattainable, BMO survey finds News Explosions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi jolt Mideast financial hubs PMN Business Posthaste: Canada's housing affordability 'crisis' spreads, but this city is still a bright spot, says CMHC News Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. The (high) opportunity cost of paying off your mortgage early Mortgages Feds to invest millions in startup accelerator to boost Canadian defence and dual-use companies Innovation Posthaste: Canadians' new retirement savings goal of $1.7 million looks increasingly unattainable, BMO survey finds News Explosions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi jolt Mideast financial hubs PMN Business Posthaste: Canada's housing affordability 'crisis' spreads, but this city is still a bright spot, says CMHC News