By Peter Omopo
China has expressed support for Iran’s decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, during recent United States and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Speaking on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun described the appointment as an internal matter for Iran and warned against any attempt to target the new leader.
Guo said the decision to appoint Mojtaba Khamenei was made in accordance with Iran’s constitution and stressed that China opposes interference in the domestic affairs of other countries.
“China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext, and Iran’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity should be respected,” he said.
His remarks followed threats by Israel’s military that it could target any successor to Ali Khamenei, who was killed more than a week ago during the initial wave of joint US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
Tensions in the region have continued to escalate as Israel and the United States intensify attacks on Iranian targets, while Iran has responded with multiple waves of missile and drone strikes on Israel and Gulf states hosting US military forces.
The developments come amid growing concerns about the widening conflict in the Middle East and its potential regional impact.
