Russia and China criticize US stance on Iranian leadership
Both powers warn against regime-change pressure as Tehran moves toward selecting a new supreme leader after war
TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Russia and China issued strong diplomatic criticism of the United States’ position on Iran, warning against outside interference in the country’s political future as Tehran moves toward selecting a new supreme leader following the escalation of the US-Israeli war.
Iranian clerical authorities have been discussing the succession to the country’s highest leadership position after the killing of supreme leader Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, with reports indicating that senior clerics are considering Mojtaba Khamenei as a possible successor.
Both Moscow and Beijing signaled opposition to Western attempts to influence Iran’s internal political process.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the war against Iran “should never have happened,” warning that efforts by outside powers to impose regime change or shape the country’s leadership would not gain international support.
Beijing also emphasized that the killing of Iran’s leader represented a violation of sovereignty and the principles of international law.
China urged all sides to stop military operations immediately and return to diplomatic negotiations in order to prevent further escalation in the Middle East.
The Chinese government has consistently framed the conflict as an example of destabilizing foreign intervention, arguing that force cannot resolve political disputes and warning that the region risks sliding toward broader instability if the war continues.
Russia delivered a similar message. Moscow accused Washington and Israel of pushing the Middle East toward a dangerous confrontation and warned that external military pressure could create wider humanitarian and security consequences across the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin also called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged a return to diplomatic engagement, stressing that force should not determine political outcomes in Iran or elsewhere in the region.
The Kremlin further criticized attempts to justify the war on nuclear grounds. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said there was no evidence that Iran had been on the verge of building nuclear weapons and warned that military pressure could instead strengthen domestic factions advocating such capabilities.
International affairs analysts say the statements from Moscow and Beijing reflect a broader geopolitical concern about Western intervention in sovereign states.
Dr. Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and a specialist on Russia-China relations, said both countries see the Iran crisis as part of a wider struggle over global power and international norms.
“Russia and China oppose regime-change policies because they fear the precedent,” he said. “If outside powers can remove a leader and influence succession in Iran, the same principle could eventually be used elsewhere.”
At the same time, analysts note that neither Russia nor China appears willing to enter the war directly. Instead, both countries are positioning themselves diplomatically — condemning the conflict while avoiding military involvement that could trigger a wider global confrontation.
The cautious stance reflects strategic calculations in both capitals, where leaders are seeking to defend principles of sovereignty and multipolar diplomacy while limiting the risk of direct confrontation with Washington.
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