China: Iran’s New Supreme Leader Must Not Be Targeted

China has reaffirmed that Iran’s selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as its new supreme leader after the killing of Ali Khamenei is an internal matter and opposed any external attempts to target him.

The remarks come amid threats from Israel’s military, which warned that any successor to the former supreme leader could be targeted.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump had described Mojtaba Khamenei as a “lightweight” and claimed he should influence Iran’s leadership appointment.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters Monday that the decision “was based on Iran’s constitution.”

“China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext, and Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be respected,” he added.

In recent days, Israel and the United States have conducted strikes on Iran, while Tehran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and Gulf countries hosting US troops.

Beijing, a close ally of Tehran, condemned the killing of Ali Khamenei but also criticised Iranian attacks on neighboring states.

During talks with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Sunday, China’s Middle East envoy Zhai Jun called for calm:

“China urges all parties to immediately cease military operations, prevent further escalation, and avoid harming regional populations,” he said.

On Sunday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi described the war as something that “should never have happened” and urged all sides to end hostilities.

The conflict has disrupted global energy flows and threatens China’s oil supply. Last year, over 80 percent of Iranian oil exports were sent to China, according to Kpler, representing roughly 13 percent of China’s total seaborne oil imports.

However, more than 50 percent of China’s seaborne crude imports come from the wider Middle East, making the country highly reliant on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Africans Angle News