China on Monday (March 2, 2026) called media reports on Iran using Chinese-made missiles to attack its neighbours after a strike by the US and Israel killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as “untrue” and “malicious claims.”
Denying the reports that said Iran fired China-made missiles, the foreign ministry in Beijing said it “opposes use of force in international relations” and that it was “willing to work with the international community to resolve issues through talks.”
Calling for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to stop the West Asian conflict, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said the most urgent task was an immediate cessation of military operations and preventing its spread and spillover to other parts of the world.
The US and Israel had struck Iran on Saturday (February 28, 2026), killing Khamenei at his office compound, resulting in Iran retaliating by targeting American and Israeli military installations in the West Asian region on Sunday (March 1, 2026).
Mao also urged for “a resolution through dialogue and negotiation”. One Chinese national was killed in the West Asia conflict when the US and Israel struck Tehran.
“The foreign ministry has instructed the Chinese embassy in Iran to provide assistance to the individual involved and the family,” Mao added, without giving further details.
She said Beijing was not informed by either Washington or Tel Aviv before Tehran was attacked, adding that China joined Russia in urging the United Nations Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the West Asian crisis.
China also issued an alert last week for its citizens to desist from travelling to West Asia “in light of the current security situation.” Over 3,000 Chinese nationals left Iran on Monday (March 2, 2026) following Beijing’s alert.
Meanwhile, the Russian President’s office on Monday (March 2) said his nation was in constant touch with the surviving Iranian leadership on the “outright aggression” against Tehran.
The Kremlin said it was deeply disappointed about the event on Saturday (February 28) that had escalated into a regional war.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday (March 1) condemned the killing of Khamenei as a “cynical” murder, while the Russian Foreign Ministry accused the U.S. and Israel of plunging West Asia “into an abyss of uncontrolled escalation.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday (March 2) that Russia was analysing the situation and drawing its own conclusions after Washington opted to launch strikes at Iran despite what Moscow thought had looked like promising talks.
“As for the negotiations mediated by Oman between the United States and Iran, we can certainly express our deep disappointment that, despite reports of significant progress in these negotiations, the situation has nevertheless deteriorated into outright aggression,” Peskov told reporters.
“I can only say that we are in constant contact with the Iranian leadership over the ‘outright aggression’ against Tehran. At the same time, we are continuing our dialogue with the leadership of the countries affected by the conflict, including the Persian Gulf states,” said Peskov