MP Rauff Hakeem, Leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), has expressed condolences over the reported death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and strongly condemned what he described as a unilateral US-Israel military strike on Iran.
In a statement, Hakeem said the reported killing of Khamenei and several senior Iranian defense officials amounted to a shocking violation of international law and an act of aggression against a sovereign state. He extended “profound anguish and heartfelt condolences” to the people of Iran.
Hakeem also criticized the Government of Sri Lanka’s response to the escalating conflict, alleging that its official statement failed to reference Iran or acknowledge its losses despite longstanding bilateral ties between the two countries.
He claimed the government’s remarks appeared to place the burden of de-escalation on Iran without explicitly addressing what he termed the “causal US-Israeli military aggression.” He further accused the administration of departing from its stated principles of non-alignment and neutrality.
The SLMC leader said Iran’s territorial integrity and sovereignty must be respected and warned that continued escalation could push the Middle East toward a prolonged regional conflict with global repercussions.
Hakeem also expressed solidarity with Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan amid rising regional tensions. He urged all parties to pursue constructive diplomacy and restraint.
Calling for meaningful de-escalation, Hakeem said regional stability should be built on mutual respect, cooperative security and non-proliferation, while safeguarding the right of states to peaceful nuclear energy use. (Newswire)