China on Monday said it opposes any attempt to target Mojtaba Khamenei, who was recently appointed as the new supreme leader of Iran following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei.
Speaking during a press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described Iran’s leadership transition as an internal matter that should be respected by the international community. He stated that the decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei was made in accordance with Iran’s constitutional process and warned against external interference.
“China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext, and Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” the spokesperson said while responding to questions about threats against the newly appointed leader.
Moneycontrol
The remarks come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following reports that Israel had warned it could target any successor to the late Ali Khamenei, who was killed in the first wave of joint strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory.
NST Online
Since the attacks, hostilities between Iran and its adversaries have escalated, with Tehran launching missile and drone strikes in retaliation against Israel and other regional targets hosting U.S. forces.
arabnews.com
China, a key diplomatic and economic partner of Iran, has urged all sides to respect Iran’s sovereignty and avoid actions that could further inflame the already volatile situation in the region