China's Wang Yi Criticizes Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader in Call With Russia's Lavrov

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as "unacceptable" and a violation of international law, in a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 1, 2026. According to a readout from China's official Xinhua News Agency, Wang described the joint US-Israeli strikes that resulted in Khamenei's death as a "blatant killing of the leader of a sovereign state" and an attempt to incite regime change, actions he said flagrantly breach the basic norms governing international relations.

Wang emphasized that launching military attacks on a sovereign country without authorization from the United Nations Security Council undermines the post-World War II international order and the foundation for global peace and security. He urged the international community to "speak in a clear and unequivocal voice" against what he termed a regression to the "law of the jungle," where might prevails over right. The remarks align closely with Russia's earlier condemnation of the strikes as a "pre-planned and unprovoked act of armed aggression," signaling deepening coordination between Beijing and Moscow in response to the crisis.

The phone call comes amid intensified military exchanges in West Asia, with Iran launching retaliatory missile and drone attacks on Israel and US-affiliated targets in the Gulf, while Israel continues strikes on Iranian regime infrastructure, including in central Tehran. China's position reflects its longstanding opposition to unilateral military interventions and regime-change efforts, particularly those led by the United States, as well as its strategic partnership with Iran under frameworks such as the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and China's Belt and Road Initiative.

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Beijing has maintained a balanced public stance on the conflict, calling for restraint, de-escalation, and a return to dialogue while avoiding direct condemnation of Iran or explicit endorsement of its retaliatory actions. However, Wang's strong language in the conversation with Lavrov—coupled with earlier Foreign Ministry statements criticizing the strikes—indicates growing diplomatic alignment with Russia and Iran against what China perceives as Western-led violations of sovereignty. Analysts note that China's economic ties with Iran, including oil imports and infrastructure investments, add weight to its defense of Tehran's territorial integrity.

The exchange between Wang and Lavrov highlights the deepening rift among major powers over the crisis, with Western capitals largely framing the US-Israeli operations as necessary preemptive measures against Iranian threats, while Beijing and Moscow view them as destabilizing aggression. As the conflict shows no immediate signs of abating—with ongoing strikes, civilian disruptions, and regional economic fallout—China's call for a unified international stance against unilateral force underscores its broader push to uphold multilateralism and the UN-centered order amid rising geopolitical tensions.

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