“China is shocked by these statements,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, referring to Katz’s statement that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had “authorized the military to eliminate any senior Iranian figure, without the need for further approval.”
Lin said China always opposes the use of force in international relations.
“The killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets are absolutely unacceptable,” he said, referring to the killing of senior Iranian security official Ali Larijani.
“As the conflict rages and tensions continue to escalate, the international community calls for an immediate ceasefire and cessation of hostilities,” the spokesman said.
Lin called for a halt to military operations and to prevent the spread of the conflict.
Beijing’s statement comes as tensions across the Middle East continue to rise since the United States and Israel launched a joint military offensive against Iran on February 28, which has so far killed around 1,300 people, including then-supreme leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran retaliated with drone and missile attacks on Israel, Jordan, Iraq and the Gulf states where US military bases are located, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure. The attacks disrupted global markets and air traffic.
(Vijesti.ba)
