China is surprised that the Israeli military has a permit to kill Iranian officials

JAKARTA - China is surprised by the Israeli government's decision to allow its military to target Iranian officials without seeking approval.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz earlier said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had been authorized to kill senior Iranian officials who were targets without having to obtain further approval from Israeli leaders.

"China was surprised by the statement," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jiandalam said at a press conference, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, March 19.

"Beijing is firmly opposed to the use of force in international relations and considers the killing of the Iranian leader and the attack on civilian targets to be unacceptable actions," he said.

China also urged all parties to immediately stop hostilities to prevent further escalation in the region.

Katz said on Tuesday, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijanitelah was killed in an Israeli operation in Tehran, along with Gholamreza Soleimani, commander of the Basij paramilitary forces. The Iranian government confirmed that both of its officials were martyred.

On March 4, Katz also stated that any new Iranian leader would be an "unconditional elimination target" for the Israeli military.