BEIJING - China has pledged its support for Iran’s right to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity following military strikes on Iranian targets by the United States and Israel.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the pledge during a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, on Monday. Wang said Beijing values its traditional friendship with Tehran and supports Iran in safeguarding its national security and dignity .
The conversation came after the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on Saturday. The strikes resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to reports confirmed by Iranian state media .
China’s foreign ministry has issued multiple statements since the attack began. In a press conference on Monday, ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described the killing of Iran’s leader as a grave violation of the country’s sovereignty. She said the action tramples on the principles of the UN Charter and basic norms of international relations .
“China firmly opposes and strongly condemns it,” Mao said. She urged an immediate stop to the military operations and called on all parties to prevent further escalation of the tense situation .
Mao also confirmed that one Chinese national was killed and others were injured after being caught in the military conflict in Tehran. The foreign ministry said it has directed its embassy to provide assistance to those affected. As of Monday, more than 3,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran .
China was not notified about the US military operations beforehand, Mao told reporters .
The Chinese government has issued security alerts and evacuation advisories for its citizens in Iran. Embassies in neighboring countries have sent working groups to border points to assist evacuees .
In a separate statement over the weekend, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said Beijing is highly concerned about the strikes. The spokesperson called for respect for Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity .
China and Russia jointly requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the situation. The meeting took place on Saturday . At the council, China’s permanent representative to the UN, Fu Cong, said the strikes caused a sudden escalation of regional tensions. He said China opposes and condemns the use or threat of force in international relations .
The strikes have drawn mixed reactions globally. Russia’s foreign ministry issued a statement condemning what it called an unprovoked act of armed aggression against Iran. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on social media that the outbreak of war between the US, Israel, and Iran carries grave consequences for international peace and security .
Iran has launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks on US bases in the region and Israel, according to reports from Iranian state media . The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed to exact what it described as hard and decisive punishment .
Wang Yi discussed the situation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday. Wang told Lavrov that it is unacceptable for the US and Israel to openly kill the leader of a sovereign state. He urged the international community to send a clear message against the world regressing to what he called the law of the jungle .
China has advised Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to countries and regions around Iran affected by military actions. The foreign ministry said it continues to monitor the situation closely .