BEIJING (March 2, 2026) — China has issued a blistering condemnation of the joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran that resulted in the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, calling the operation a "blatant assassination" and a "grave violation" of international law.
In a series of high-level diplomatic statements following the February 28 strikes, Beijing warned that the region has been pushed to a "dangerous abyss" and urged an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent a total collapse of Middle East stability.
Key Statements and Diplomatic Outcry
On March 1 and 2, the Chinese Foreign Ministry and top leadership framed the strikes as an unacceptable breach of global norms:
Mao Ning (Foreign Ministry Spokesperson): Stated that the attacks "trample on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter." She confirmed that the strikes were carried out without UN Security Council authorization and urged all parties to avoid further escalation.
Wang Yi (Foreign Minister): In urgent phone calls with counterparts from Iran, Russia, and Oman, Wang Yi labeled the killing of a sovereign leader as "unacceptable." He told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that the world must not "regress to the law of the jungle" and criticized the U.S. for conducting strikes while nuclear negotiations were purportedly ongoing.
Support for Iran: Beijing reaffirmed its support for Iran’s "sovereignty, security, and national dignity," while acknowledging the 40-day mourning period declared in Tehran.
The Energy "Red Line" and Economic Stakes
Despite the strong rhetoric, Beijing is performing a delicate balancing act. China remains the world’s largest oil importer, with nearly 50% of its crude supply transiting through the Strait of Hormuz.
| Metric | Impact on China/Global Economy |
| China's Oil Imports | ~80% of Iran's sanctioned oil exports go to China. |
| Hormuz Transit | 20–21 million barrels per day move through the chokepoint globally. |
| Economic Risk | Any closure of the Strait would physically disrupt supplies in ways China's strategic reserves could only buffer temporarily. |
Beijing has reportedly been pressuring Tehran behind the scenes to keep the Strait open and avoid targeting regional energy hubs like Qatar, emphasizing that a maritime blockade would hurt Iran’s primary economic partner—China—as much as its adversaries.
Casualties and Evacuations
The conflict has directly impacted Chinese interests on the ground:
Casualties: The Foreign Ministry confirmed that at least one Chinese national was killed and others were injured during the strikes in Tehran.
Evacuations: Over 3,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated or are in the process of leaving Iran via land routes to Azerbaijan, Turkey, Armenia, and Iraq.
Travel Alerts: Beijing has expanded its "red" travel warnings, advising citizens to avoid the entire region as spillover effects reach neighboring Gulf states.
Analysis: China’s Role as "Stabilizer"
By condemning the strikes while simultaneously urging Iranian restraint, China is attempting to solidify its role as a "responsible great power" and a mediator for the Global South. This follows its successful brokering of the Saudi-Iran rapprochement in 2023. Analysts suggest Beijing’s goal is to prevent a regime collapse that would jeopardize its 25-year "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Iran and create a power vacuum in a region vital to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
