China has stepped into the intensifying Middle East crisis, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi holding telephone talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi following reports of the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader.
According to Iranian readouts of the call, Wang conveyed condolences on behalf of Beijing over what Tehran described as the “martyrdom” of Ali Khamenei, who Iran says was killed during U.S. and Israeli military strikes.
Araghchi briefed China on developments on the ground, accusing Washington and Israel of breaching international law and targeting civilian infrastructure.
He alleged that hundreds of civilians had been killed in the strikes and referenced casualties among children, including an incident in Minab that he said left 171 schoolgirls dead. He also claimed hospitals had come under attack.
The Iranian minister said Tehran’s armed forces remain resolute in defending the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He maintained that recent Iranian strikes on U.S. military facilities in parts of the Gulf were aimed at what he called the source of aggression, not host countries, adding that Iran seeks to preserve stable relations with its Gulf neighbors.
For his part, Wang reaffirmed China’s support for Iran’s sovereignty and national dignity. He criticized what he described as unlawful military actions by the United States and Israel and urged efforts to prevent further escalation.
Beyond the conflict, the two officials also discussed consular coordination and the safety of their citizens, underscoring ongoing diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Tehran as regional tensions continue to mount.
