China strongly condemned the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an official statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry on Sunday, March 1, 2026. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that the killing of the leader of a sovereign state and the instigation of regime change are unacceptable. China held urgent consultations with Russia to discuss the repercussions of the incident and prevent the region from sliding into a dangerous abyss. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed its strong opposition to the US-Israeli attack targeting the Iranian leader and warned of the consequences of this escalation for the stability of the entire region. China strongly condemns any external attempts to impose regime change in Iran by force, considering it a violation of Iranian sovereignty and strengthening the current leadership’s position in choosing a successor who will maintain the existing approach. China is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that energy supplies are not affected, as China purchases approximately 80% of Iran’s oil.
Although China does not officially or constitutionally participate in the selection of Iran’s new Supreme Leader or leadership, a role legally limited to the Assembly of Experts, composed of Iranian clerics, China’s influence is nonetheless exerted indirectly as a significant external factor due to the deep strategic partnership between the two countries. Beijing’s current focus is on ensuring a smooth transition of power that preserves the stability of the Iranian state and the cohesion of its institutions, particularly the “Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps” (IRGC), to safeguard its investments. Beijing has already begun engaging with Iran’s interim leadership council (comprising the president, the head of the judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council) to ensure the continuation of existing agreements. Following the assassination of the Supreme Leader, China immediately initiated communication channels with the interim leadership council (currently including figures such as President Masoud Pezeshkian and others tasked with managing the transitional period) to guarantee the continuation of security and economic coordination. China is expected to remain Tehran’s most prominent economic and political partner, viewing Iranian stability as vital to its regional projects and energy security. China supports a consistent approach in its relations with Tehran, and Iranian officials, such as Foreign Minister “Araqchi,” have affirmed that the approach of the former Supreme Leader, Khamenei, will remain “inspiring and steadfast,” reassuring Beijing of the consistency of its foreign policy towards Iran.
Herein lies the nature of China’s role in the selection of new Iranian leaders to ensure their complete loyalty to its ally, China, in what is known as “indirect Chinese influence within Tehran.” Despite the absence of an official Chinese role in the selection of Iranian leaders, China remains an influential player in the Iranian landscape through its support for internal stability. Beijing prefers a smooth transition of power that guarantees the continuation of strategic agreements with Iran, most notably the 25-year agreement.
For this reason, China tends to favor “pragmatic” figures within Iranian decision-making circles, favoring leaders who support an eastward orientation. For example, Ali Larijani has emerged as a figure close to Beijing, given his previous role in shaping the strategic partnership between China and Iran.
The most prominent aspects of the Chinese position on the assassination of the Iranian Supreme Leader can be summarized as follows: China’s strong condemnation described the assassination as a “serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security.” Beijing also considered the incident a “trampling on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations, and a blatant violation of international conventions.” China warned against escalation, with the Chinese Foreign Ministry describing the assassination of the Iranian Supreme Leader as a “dangerous development” that threatens regional stability and the sovereignty of states. China also demanded a halt to US and Israeli military operations against Tehran, explicitly calling for an “immediate cessation of military operations” to avoid further escalation into a wider conflict. This Chinese stance comes amid close strategic relations between the two countries, with China being a major trading partner of Iran and the two nations bound by a “comprehensive strategic partnership.”
Regarding the expectations of relevant circles in Beijing concerning the future of China’s relations with Tehran after the assassination of the Iranian Supreme Leader, it is anticipated that China will continue its approach of providing assistance to Tehran. China is likely to maintain strong relations with the new leadership chosen by the Assembly of Experts to ensure the stability of energy supplies and protect its investments in the Belt and Road Initiative. China is also expected to play a diplomatic mediating role, potentially seeking to act as a “stabilizing force” to prevent a full-scale regional war that could harm the Belt and Road Initiative and its economic interests in the Middle East.
Regardless of the change in Iran’s Supreme Leader, China will engage with the new Iranian leadership through a number of strategic pillars of the relationship. Sino-Iranian relations are based on long-term interests that transcend changes in leadership, due to the China-Iran Cooperation Program and the 25-year comprehensive strategic partnership with Iran. China and Iran signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement in 2021, which includes massive Chinese investments of up to $400 billion in the oil, gas, petrochemical, and infrastructure sectors. Furthermore, the energy partnership between the two countries is significant, with China being the main buyer of Iranian oil, providing a financial lifeline to Tehran under international sanctions. The geopolitical alliance also plays a major role in promoting the interests of both sides. China and Iran see themselves as part of an axis confronting “Western hegemony,” and China, Russia, and Iran are classified as a strategic alliance on many international issues.
