The United States and Israel’s ongoing airstrike campaign against Iran is a violation of international law, China’s Foreign Ministry said Monday.
“The U.S.-Israeli strikes have no United Nations Security Council authorization and violate international law. China is deeply concerned over the regional spillover,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said during Monday’s regular press conference.
Why It Matters
The attack began early Saturday, with U.S. President Trump posting a video to Truth Social calling for a regime change in Tehran and vowing to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic maintains its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes.
The strikes, which killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and about 40 other senior government officials, sharply escalated tensions in the region. Iran has retaliated by launching drones and missiles at neighboring countries hosting U.S. forces. Oman’s top diplomat, who served as an intermediary in negotiations with Iran on a number of issues, said a deal had been “within our reach” and that Tehran had agreed not to stockpile enriched uranium.
Newsweek has reached out the U.S. Department of State and Iran”s Foreign Ministry by email with a request for comment.
What To Know
Beijing is also “deeply concerned” over the spread of the conflict beyond Iran’s borders, Mao said. “China believes that the sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Gulf countries should also be fully respected,” she went on.
“We urge parties to stop the military operations and prevent further spread of the conflict.”
Iran has retaliated with missile and drone strikes in countries that host U.S. bases—Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Israel also carried out airstrikes in Lebanon after the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah fired drones and missiles toward Israel.
Mao said called the killing of Khamenei “a grave violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security” that flouted the U.N. Charter and basic norms in international relations. We urge for an immediate stop to the military operations, no further escalation of the tense situation, and joint effort to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East and the world at large.”
The U.S. said at least four American service members have been killed in the conflict so far, while Israeli officials have reported around a dozen military deaths. Iran’s Red Crescent has reported hundreds of fatalities inside Iran, including at least 148 people killed in the bombing of a girls’ school in the southern city of Minab.
What People Are Saying
Bonnie Glaser, managing director of the Indo-Pacific program at the German Marshall Fund, wrote on X: “This pattern of China expressing shock and concern, but taking no action, and providing little if any help to Iran will not change. If there is a new regime, Beijing will seek to pragmatically develop good relations, regardless of who is in charge.”
Hu Xijin, former editor of the Chinese state-run Global Times wrote in an X post: “The U.S. has been led astray by Israel. While talks with a small country were still going on, it launched an unannounced war and even assassinated its leader.
“During the Kosovo War and the Iraq War, the U.S. gave final warnings in advance. This time it did not. As a major power, the U.S. has seriously broken the rules of war. The world will become more chaotic.”
What Happens Next
Trump said he expected the operation to go on for four weeks. “They want to, they want to talk, but I said you should have talked last week not this week,” he told the Daily Mail, without specifying on what conditions he would halt the operation.
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