China has voiced strong condemnation over the recent killing of Iran’s national security chief, Ali Larijani, in an Israeli airstrike, describing the incident as “unacceptable” and urging all parties involved to immediately halt military actions. The statement came during a press briefing where China’s foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, emphasized Beijing’s longstanding opposition to the use of force in resolving international disputes.
Ali Larijani’s death marks one of the most significant losses for Iran since the conflict escalated earlier this year. He was the highest-ranking Iranian official to be killed since a series of strikes by the United States and Israel targeted senior leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, at the onset of hostilities on February 28. Larijani’s assassination has further intensified tensions in an already volatile region, raising concerns about a wider escalation.
China, which maintains a close diplomatic and economic partnership with Iran, has also expressed criticism of Tehran’s retaliatory strikes against Gulf countries hosting US military installations. Despite its alliance with Iran, Beijing has consistently called for restraint from all sides, highlighting the importance of avoiding civilian casualties and the destruction of non-military infrastructure. Lin Jian reiterated that attacks targeting civilian areas are particularly unacceptable and urged all involved to exercise maximum caution.
In recent weeks, China has actively sought to mediate in the Middle East crisis. Zhai Jun, Beijing’s special envoy to the region, has engaged in high-level talks with officials from various countries affected by the conflict. During these diplomatic visits, Zhai stressed the necessity of protecting non-military targets and ensuring the uninterrupted flow of maritime traffic through critical shipping lanes, which are vital for global trade and energy supplies.
Furthermore, China announced plans to provide humanitarian aid to several nations impacted by the ongoing conflict, including Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq. This assistance aims to alleviate the suffering of civilians caught in the crossfire and underscores Beijing’s commitment to supporting stability and peace in the region. The Chinese government continues to call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent the situation from spiraling further out of control.
