China has reacted cautiously to the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader of Iran, describing the development as an internal matter and calling for respect for the country’s sovereignty.
Speaking at a press briefing in Beijing, according to the China-Global South Project, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said the leadership change followed Iran’s constitutional process.
“The election of Iran’s supreme leader is a decision based on the country’s constitution,” the spokesperson said while responding to questions about the transition.
The clerical body responsible for selecting Iran’s supreme leader, the Assembly of Experts, confirmed Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new leader after the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, who was killed during recent military strikes linked to the escalating Middle East conflict.
China reiterated its longstanding policy of non-interference, stressing that other nations should respect Iran’s independence.
According to the foreign ministry, “China opposes interference in other countries’ internal affairs under any pretext,” and believes that “Iran’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity should be respected.”
The leadership change comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with fighting involving Iran, the United States and Israel continuing to escalate.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a mid-ranking cleric with close ties to Iran’s powerful security institutions, had long been viewed as a potential successor to his father.
His appointment makes him the third supreme leader since the founding of the Islamic Republic in 1979.
