China has condemned military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel against Iran, saying the operation — which reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader — violated international law and undermined ongoing diplomatic negotiations.
The strikes took place on Saturday, hours after Washington and Tehran concluded another round of talks aimed at reaching a new nuclear agreement. The negotiations were mediated by Oman and had been described by both sides as making progress.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the attacks, according to reports.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the operation was unacceptable, particularly as it occurred during active negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
“Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that it is unacceptable for the U.S. and Israel to launch attacks against Iran in the process of the ongoing U.S.-Iran negotiations, still less to blatantly attack and kill a leader of a sovereign country and instigate government change,” Mao said.
“These actions have violated international law and basic norms of international relations,” she added.
Mao said Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had recently spoken by phone with counterparts from Russia, Iran, France and Oman to discuss efforts to de-escalate the situation and end the conflict.
She outlined Beijing’s position as threefold: an immediate halt to military operations, a return to dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible, and joint opposition to unilateral actions.
China supports Iran in defending its sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and national dignity, Mao said, adding that major powers should not use military superiority to attack other countries.
“The world must not slip back to the law of the jungle,” she said.
Mao added that China would continue to play what it described as a constructive role and called on the international community to oppose actions that violate the basic norms governing international relations.
