Beijing has firmly stated that Iran’s recent appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new supreme leader, following the death of his father Ali Khamenei, is an internal affair that must be respected by the international community. This announcement came amid heightened threats from Israel’s military, which has openly declared intentions to target any successor to the late supreme leader, who was killed during the initial wave of coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran.
During a press briefing on Monday, Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasized that Iran’s leadership transition was conducted in accordance with the country’s constitutional framework. He underscored China’s strong opposition to any form of external interference in the sovereign affairs of other nations, regardless of the justification presented. Guo further stressed that Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity must be upheld and respected by all parties.
The ongoing conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance has intensified in recent days, with both sides exchanging missile and drone strikes. Tehran has retaliated against Israeli and Gulf states hosting American military forces, escalating the regional tensions to alarming levels. China, which maintains a strategic partnership with Iran, condemned the killing of Ali Khamenei but also expressed disapproval of Iran’s retaliatory attacks on Gulf countries, reflecting Beijing’s delicate balancing act in the volatile Middle East landscape.
These developments have far-reaching implications beyond the immediate conflict zone, particularly concerning global energy security and international trade routes. Iran plays a crucial role in supplying oil to China, with over 80 percent of Iranian crude exports directed to the Chinese market last year, data from the analytics firm Kpler. Although Iranian oil constitutes about 13 percent of China’s total seaborne crude imports, the broader Middle East region accounts for more than half of China’s seaborne oil supply, highlighting China’s significant dependence on the stability of this corridor.
One critical chokepoint in this supply chain is the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil shipments pass. Any disruption in this narrow maritime passage due to escalating hostilities could severely impact China’s energy imports and the global oil market at large. As tensions continue to mount, Beijing’s call for respecting Iran’s sovereignty and opposing external targeting of its leadership signals its intent to safeguard its strategic interests while advocating for regional stability.
