China condemns the assassination of Iran's Larijani and other top officials as 'completely unjustified

Iran's national security chief, Ali Larijani, was reportedly "eliminated" by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz on March 17, 2026, along with the commander of Tehran's Basij paramilitary force, in an incident that has sparked widespread condemnation.

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China has strongly denounced the killing of Ali Larijani, describing it as "unacceptable" and calling for an immediate cessation of military operations to prevent the regional situation from deteriorating further.

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Beijing's criticism of the attack is notable, given its partnership with Iran, although China has also expressed disapproval of Tehran's strikes against Gulf states that house US military bases, highlighting the complexities of its Middle Eastern diplomacy.

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Ali Larijani's death marks the highest-profile Iranian casualty since the wave of US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, which also claimed the lives of supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other senior figures.

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China's foreign ministry spokesman, Lin Jian, emphasized the country's opposition to the use of force in international relations, stating that the killing of Iranian state leaders and attacks on civilian targets are "even more unacceptable".

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Lin Jian also urged the parties involved to immediately halt military operations and work towards preventing the regional situation from spiralling out of control, as China seeks to mediate in the conflict.

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China's special envoy to the Middle East, Zhai Jun, has been travelling across the region, meeting with top officials in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Egypt, as part of Beijing's efforts to broker a peaceful resolution.

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During his visits, Zhai Jun stressed the importance of sparing non-military targets and maintaining the safety of shipping lanes, according to Lin Jian, who described the envoy's trips as "one part of China's intensive diplomatic efforts" in the Middle East.

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China's diplomatic mediation efforts will continue unabated, Lin Jian assured, as long as the conflict persists, with Beijing committed to finding a peaceful solution to the crisis.

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In a related development, China's foreign ministry announced plans to provide humanitarian assistance to Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq, as part of its efforts to alleviate the suffering caused by the conflict.