The killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets are by no means acceptable, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Thursday, in commenting on the assassination of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, in an Israeli attack on Tehran earlier this week.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and he "authorized the military to thwart any senior Iranian official who is cornered, by intelligence or operation, without the need for further authorization."
"China is shocked with the statement. We are always against the use of force in international relations. The killing of Iranian leaders and attacks on civilian targets are even more unacceptable," said Lin Jian, the spokesman, at a press conference in Beijing.
"Currently, the conflict is raging in the Middle East, and the escalation and spillover of the tensions are taking place. An immediate ceasefire is a common aspiration of the international community. China urges the parties involved to immediately cease military operations to prevent the regional situation from spiraling out of control," said the spokesman.
Killing of Iranian leaders, attacks on civilian targets unacceptable: spokesman
A Chinese national working in Iran has recounted his firsthand experience of the conflict's disruption of daily life, from a nationwide internet blackout to soaring living costs and constant fear of airstrikes, as U.S.-Israeli military attacks on the country entered their 19th day on Wednesday.
Mr. Wang, the Chinese national who has been living and working in Iran for six years, has witnessed the escalating conflict firsthand since the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale airstrikes against the country on Feb 28.
For local residents and foreign nationals like Mr. Wang, the conflict has brought sweeping disruptions to even the most basic aspects of daily life, starting with a total internet shutdown across the country.
"Due to the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict, the entire country of Iran has been under an internet blackout for almost a week now, and we have no idea how much longer it will last. Without internet, we can't do anything at all," Mr. Wang said.
Compounding the digital isolation is the severe economic strain driven by the conflict, which has exacerbated the impact of long-standing U.S. sanctions on Iran's economy.
"Due to the U.S. sanctions on Iran, the country's currency is now severely depreciated, and prices have risen very sharply, which has affected the quality of life of the local people and ourselves. Especially for meat products, we can hardly afford meat anymore," he said.
While access to daily necessities remains stable for now, the constant, round-the-clock airstrikes have inflicted severe psychological stress on people across the country, shattering any sense of safety in their own homes.
"The U.S. and Israel are carrying out airstrikes on Iran every single day. We are frequently jolted awake by explosions in the middle of the night, too afraid to sleep. The entire house shakes, leaving us in a state of constant anxiety. Fortunately, supplies in the supermarkets remain relatively adequate," Wang said.
As the conflict drags on with no clear end in sight, Mr. Wang and other Chinese nationals in Iran have thought about leaving, but face huge, daunting barriers to evacuating safely.
"We have thought about evacuating, but all flights have been suspended now. The place we're staying is very far from the border crossings, and we're worried about safety on the road. So right now, we're following the arrangements of our consulate here, staying at home and not moving around, waiting for the war to end. If the situation eases even a little, we will consider returning to China. If the war stops altogether, then we can go back to our normal lives again," he said.
The U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran entered its 19th day on Wednesday, with strikes targeting the North Pars gas field, prompting Iran to retaliate against regional energy facilities. The attacks have driven oil prices higher, raising fears of a major energy crisis if the region's key energy infrastructure continues to be hit.
On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, top security official Ali Larijani, senior military commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets across the Middle East.
Chinese national in Iran tells of people's "constant anxiety" amid US-Israeli strikes
