China has strongly opposed any attempts to target Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, after warnings from the Israeli military directed at the successor of his late father, Ali Khamenei. Beijing emphasised that Iran’s leadership transition is an internal matter and called for respect for the country’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity.
The statement comes as Israel continues to expand its military operations across the region. Israeli strikes have hit multiple locations in southern Lebanon, Beirut and parts of Iran, significantly escalating the conflict in West Asia. Tensions have soared since the death of Iran’s long-time Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei during a major military operation.
Iran confirmed that the 86-year-old leader was killed on February 28 in Tehran when coordinated airstrikes targeted key government and military installations. The incident marked a dramatic turning point in the regional crisis, intensifying hostilities between Iran, the United States and Israel.
Following his death, Iran’s leadership swiftly appointed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new Supreme Leader. Senior military and political figures in Tehran have pledged allegiance to him, signalling continuity in the country’s leadership despite the ongoing conflict.
Amid the escalating military exchanges, Iranian officials have accused the United States of seeking to divide the country and seize its oil resources. Tehran has repeatedly criticised Washington’s support for Israeli military actions, while both sides continue to exchange threats and retaliatory strikes.
The worsening crisis has triggered widespread international concern, including in India. Addressing the Rajya Sabha on Monday, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar expressed serious concern about the rapidly deteriorating situation in West Asia. He said the ongoing violence, mounting casualties and extensive infrastructure damage have disrupted normal life across several parts of the region.
Jaishankar noted that the situation is particularly alarming for India due to its close economic, strategic and people-to-people ties with West Asian countries. Reiterating New Delhi’s position, he referred to the government’s statement issued on February 28 calling for restraint, protection of civilians and respect for the sovereignty of all nations.
The minister also briefed Parliament on India’s large-scale evacuation efforts. According to him, Indian embassies across the region are operating round the clock to assist citizens, and nearly 67,000 Indian nationals had crossed international borders by the previous day as part of emergency relocation measures.
As the conflict continues to widen, global powers are increasingly urging restraint to prevent the crisis from spiralling into a broader regional war. China’s warning against targeting Iran’s new leadership reflects growing international concern that further escalation could destabilise West Asia and threaten global security.
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