China has warned against any attempt to target Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stressing that the decision to name him was purely an internal matter for the Islamic Republic.
Beijing made the statement on Monday after Iran confirmed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, during the first wave of joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory.
Israel’s military has reportedly warned that any successor to the late Iranian leader could also become a target as the conflict continues to escalate in the region.
Earlier, United States President Donald Trump mocked the new Iranian leader, describing Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and suggesting that Washington should influence who leads Iran next.
Reacting to the development, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the appointment of the younger Khamenei followed Iran’s constitutional process.
He stressed that China opposes interference in the internal affairs of any nation and called on the international community to respect Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
The warning comes as hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States continue to intensify.
In recent days, American and Israeli forces have increased strikes on Iranian targets, while Tehran has responded with waves of missiles and drone attacks against Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military bases.
China, a close partner of Iran, had earlier condemned the killing of the former supreme leader but also criticised Iran’s attacks on Gulf states.
During a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, urged all sides to immediately halt military operations and avoid actions that could further worsen tensions in the region.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said the war “should never have happened” and called for an immediate end to the fighting.
The ongoing conflict has raised serious concerns about global energy security and international trade, particularly for China, which relies heavily on oil imports from the Middle East.
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Data from analytics firm Kpler indicates that more than 80 percent of Iran’s oil exports last year went to China, accounting for about 13 percent of China’s total seaborne oil imports.
Overall, more than half of China’s crude oil imports come from the wider Middle East, making the country heavily dependent on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
China warns against targeting Iran’s new Supreme Leader
China has warned against any attempt to target Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, stressing that the decision to name him was purely an internal matter for the Islamic Republic.
Beijing made the statement on Monday after Iran confirmed Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, during the first wave of joint airstrikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory.
Israel’s military has reportedly warned that any successor to the late Iranian leader could also become a target as the conflict continues to escalate in the region.
Earlier, United States President Donald Trump mocked the new Iranian leader, describing Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and suggesting that Washington should influence who leads Iran next.
Reacting to the development, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the appointment of the younger Khamenei followed Iran’s constitutional process.
He stressed that China opposes interference in the internal affairs of any nation and called on the international community to respect Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
The warning comes as hostilities between Iran, Israel, and the United States continue to intensify.
In recent days, American and Israeli forces have increased strikes on Iranian targets, while Tehran has responded with waves of missiles and drone attacks against Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military bases.
China, a close partner of Iran, had earlier condemned the killing of the former supreme leader but also criticised Iran’s attacks on Gulf states.
During a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, China’s special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, urged all sides to immediately halt military operations and avoid actions that could further worsen tensions in the region.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi also said the war “should never have happened” and called for an immediate end to the fighting.
The ongoing conflict has raised serious concerns about global energy security and international trade, particularly for China, which relies heavily on oil imports from the Middle East.
Data from analytics firm Kpler indicates that more than 80 percent of Iran’s oil exports last year went to China, accounting for about 13 percent of China’s total seaborne oil imports.
Overall, more than half of China’s crude oil imports come from the wider Middle East, making the country heavily dependent on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.
