The EU says the death of Iran’s supreme leader offers hope for its people but carries a serious risk of regional instability and violence.

BRUSSELS: Top European Union officials said the killing of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes could spell “hope” for the country but carried a serious risk of regional instability.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the moment as one of “renewed hope for the people of Iran” in a social media post following a call with Jordan’s King Abdullah II.

She warned that the moment also “carries a real risk of instability that could push the region into a spiral of violence”.

Von der Leyen stated that Brussels was engaging closely “with all key actors” to safeguard stability and security and to protect civilian lives.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described Khamenei’s death as “a defining moment in Iran’s history” in a separate statement.

Kallas said she was in contact with regional partners “that bear the brunt of Iran’s military actions” to find practical steps for de-escalation.

“What comes next is uncertain,” Kallas wrote, adding that “there is now an open path to a different Iran, one that its people may have greater freedom to shape”.

 The Sun Malaysia