China Responds to Yisrael Katz’s Threats Against Iranian Leaders

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz’s statements about assassinating Iranian leaders coincided with the development of a joint Chinese plan with Tehran to stop Israel’s assassination policy, following a series of Israeli threats to assassinate any Iranian leader who tries to target Israel, along with China’s condemnation of the provocative statements by Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, that Israel was the one who killed the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Chinese response came in the form of Iranian and Chinese state television broadcasting China’s diplomatic participation in the funeral of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. This participation involved sending He Wei, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (the country’s highest legislative body). This move provoked Israel, as the high-level Chinese representation at the funeral of the former Supreme Leader with Beijing sending a high-ranking legislative official (He Wei) to attend the official ceremonies reflected China’s keenness to maintain strong strategic relations with Tehran and the new Iranian leadership in the face of any irresponsible escalation by the US or Israel against Iran, from the official Chinese perspective. China and Iran encouraged Tehran to continue officially hosting the funeral ceremonies with the participation of international delegations, coinciding with Tehran’s continued threats of revenge against Israel amidst a large popular and international audience.

  In contrast, China rejects Israel’s policy of assassinations, deeming it unacceptable, and calls for a halt to military operations to curb the chaos. China categorically rejects the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, who asserted that the assassination of the former Iranian Supreme Leader was due to his leadership of a plan aimed at destroying Israel. Katz emphasized that Israel will continue to assassinate and eliminate any Iranian leader who attempts to advance plans to destroy Israel again, regardless of their name or whereabouts. He also pointed out that the extensive operations and strikes led by Israel and the US (under Netanyahu and Trump) have removed existential threats to the Jewish state. This Israeli escalation comes at a time when the threats coincide with the funeral of the former Supreme Leader in Iran, and amidst existing disagreements and tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv, as the US administration seeks to finalize a de-escalation agreement with Iran through Pakistani mediation, supported by China.

  Here, China considers the assassinations targeting Iranian officials and leaders absolutely unacceptable. Beijing strongly opposes the policy of assassinations and ongoing threats, emphasizing that the use of military force violates Iran’s sovereignty and international law. It consistently calls for de-escalation and restraint to prevent the conflict from escalating. China’s policy toward these tensions and the statements of Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz is based on rejecting Israel’s policy of assassinations. China condemned Israeli statements targeting Iranian leaders, considering the targeting of political figures and officials a serious violation of the UN Charter, while advocating for diplomatic solutions. China believes that the threat of assassinations and unilateral military operations only complicates the crisis. Beijing consistently prefers dialogue and diplomacy to reduce tensions, while warning against regional escalation. China urges all parties involved in the region to immediately cease military operations, considering any further escalation a threat to the security and interests of the entire region.

  China strongly condemns the assassination of Iranian leaders and any infringement upon Iranian sovereignty, deeming it unacceptable based on the principles of the UN Charter and the fundamental norms of international relations. China’s consistent stance on this issue includes condemning Israeli escalation against Tehran. Beijing considers the targeting of the Iranian Supreme Leader by Washington and Israel a grave violation of Tehran’s sovereignty. Furthermore, China rejects the policy of assassinations, with the spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry affirming that the killing of any Iranian leader, such as the Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, is completely unacceptable. China calls for a diplomatic commitment to an immediate cessation of military operations and opposes the use of military force in international relations. In addition, China is coordinating with international and regional partners to prevent the spread and escalation of the conflict. Beijing is also engaged in ongoing consultations with Moscow through the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to promote restraint and prevent tensions in the Middle East from spiraling out of control. Beijing is following these events with great concern, given its strategic reliance on energy supplies, particularly from Iran, as China is the largest importer of Iranian oil. This Chinese stance has been clearly demonstrated by its condemnation of recent Israeli assassinations of Iranian leaders, politicians, and officials, and its opposition to policies of regime change by force.

  The Chinese-Iranian response to Israel’s threats to assassinate Iranian leaders came in the form of a joint Chinese-Iranian plan to halt this policy. This plan involved joint Chinese-Iranian military and security strategies aimed at stopping Israeli assassinations. This coincided with Iran’s policy of diplomatic rejection and its reliance on a strategy of strategic patience and direct missile retaliation. Intelligence reports indicated Chinese cooperation in bolstering Iranian defenses, specifically through China’s support of Iran’s defense and intelligence strategies against Israel. Tehran is thus resorting to strengthening its technological and defense capabilities with Chinese assistance, such as satellite surveillance technology, to close security gaps exploited by Israel. This is coupled with the execution of retaliatory missile strikes against Tel Aviv. Iran countered Israeli threats by launching retaliatory missile strikes as part of military operations dubbed True Promise, targeting deep inside Israeli territory in response to the assassination of its leaders. Simultaneously, Iran intensified its policy of fortification, expanding underground bunkers for its ballistic missile systems. Accordingly, Israel adopted a policy of escalation against Iran, employing an intelligence and military approach aimed at dismantling Iranian leadership networks and their allies, while simultaneously issuing direct threats against the Iranian regime and its leaders. Israel continued to threaten to target any Iranian military or political official who planned to target its national security or attempted to attack it, claiming this was an act of self-defense and a means to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear and military capabilities.

 Due to these repeated Israeli threats against Iran, Tehran resorted to bolstering its military and intelligence capabilities by relying on Chinese technology, particularly in the field of space-based reconnaissance, to improve the accuracy of its targeting and close the gaps exploited by Israel and the United States.  This cooperation is exemplified by Iran’s purchase of a spy satellite system from China. In late 2024, Iran secretly acquired an advanced Chinese remote sensing satellite, designated (TEE-01B). This satellite, manufactured and launched in China, is equipped with optical equipment and artificial intelligence technologies that provide high-resolution images, surpassing the capabilities of Iranian satellites. It is used to track any Israeli or American attempts to infiltrate the United States. Furthermore, Tehran’s development of targeting systems has been aided by images and data provided by Chinese companies, such as the (Jilin-1 and EarthEye satellite constellations). These resources have enhanced the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s ability to track and monitor the movements of hostile forces, including Israel and the United States. This represents a broader scope of the partnership between Beijing and Tehran, especially given Iran’s increasing use of advanced Chinese navigation systems and its acquisition of electronic components and radar systems under the (25-year comprehensive strategic partnership agreement) between the two countries.  While Beijing diplomatically denies any direct involvement in launching strikes or providing direct military support to Iran, Western intelligence agencies, citing orbital tracking evidence, have accused Tehran of using these Chinese technologies to bolster its battlefield superiority in the region.

  Accordingly, we can understand China’s reluctance to engage directly in any provocative military actions with Iran against Israel or the American presence. It prefers proxy wars and attrition with Iran rather than direct confrontation with Washington and Tel Aviv. Instead of escalating tensions, Beijing focuses on issuing public calls for de-escalation, protecting its vital oil interests, and securing navigation in the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the flow of energy. This is especially significant given that China is a major trading partner of Iran (particularly in the energy sector) and supports regional security and stability, expressing hope for stability in Iran under the leadership of the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.