China lashes out, says US-Israel killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei violates UN Charter
BEIJING - The Chinese government launched a harsh condemnation of the military aggression launched by the United States (US) and Israel on Saturday (28/2/2026). The attack confirmed that it had killed the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with a number of other high-ranking officials in the country.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized that the murder of the supreme leader of a sovereign country is a serious violation of international law.
"The attack and murder of the Supreme Leader of Iran is a serious violation of Iran's sovereignty and security. China firmly opposes and strongly condemns such actions," read a Chinese Foreign Ministry official statement reported via Antara, Sunday (1/3/2026).
Violation of the UN Charter and International Norms
Beijing considers the coordinated military action between Washington and Tel Aviv to have ignored the basic principle of inter-state relations. China urges that military force should no longer be used to complicate the atmosphere.
"This action tramples on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter (UN) and the basic norms in international relations," the statement said.
China also called for a cessation of military operations as soon as possible to prevent a wider regional war. Beijing called on all parties to make joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East region.
Chronology of the Attack: Tehran is in flames
Reports from Tehran said that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was in his office when the missile hit on Saturday morning. The attack not only ended Khamenei's 37-year leadership, but also killed close family members, including his daughter, grandson, and son-in-law.
The Iranian military sector was also hit hard. A number of key figures were reported to have fallen, including:
Mohammad Pakpour (IRGC Commander) Abdulrahim Mousavi (Chief of Staff of the Military) Aziz Nasirzadeh (Minister of Defense) Ali Shamkhani (Secretary of the Defense Council)In total, this aggression reportedly resulted in at least 201 people killed and 747 others injured due to damage to civilian and military infrastructure.
Iran's Response and Donald Trump's Condemnation
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has launched missiles at 27 strategic points, including Tel Nof airbase in Israel and US military headquarters in the Middle East. Iran also declared a 40-day national mourning period.
On the other hand, US President Donald Trump made a provocative statement regarding this operation. Trump called Khamenei one of the most dangerous figures and praised the US-Israeli intelligence system that managed to track the whereabouts of the Iranian leader.
Meanwhile, massive waves of demonstrations broke out in various cities in Iran, ranging from Tehran, Qom, to Mashhad, where millions of people took to the streets carrying Khamenei's posters and chanting anti-US and anti-Israel slogans.