Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday denounced the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and Israel.

In a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Wang described the killing of the leader of a sovereign country and calls for regime change as unacceptable, violating international law and basic norms of international relations, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Wang stated China's position on the situation in Iran: an immediate cessation of military operations, a prompt return to dialogue and negotiations and a joint opposition to unilateral actions, Xinhua added.

He also said it was unacceptable for the US and Israel to launch strikes on Iran during negotiations between Washington and Tehran.

A Foreign Ministry spokesperson also "strongly condemned" the killing of Iran's supreme leader.

The killing was "a serious violation of Iran's sovereignty and security, a trampling on the aims and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations", the spokesperson said.

"China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this," the spokesperson added, calling for "immediate halting of military operations". (Additional reporting by AFP)


Edited by Edmond Fong