Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

A top Chinese official has warned the United States and Israel that attempts to force regime change in Iran will lack public support and could further destabilize the Middle East.

Some shit you should know before you dig in: It’s no secret that China is heavily dependent on Iran, both as a major energy supplier and as a strategic partner in its effort to counter Western influence. China is the largest buyer of Iranian crude, importing roughly 1.38 million barrels per day (which accounts for more than 80% of Iran’s exported oil), often at discounted prices due to Western sanctions. Chinese companies have also invested heavily in Iran’s energy sector through long-term deals, a relationship that has become even more important as China’s other key suppliers (Venezuela and Russia) face disruptions. In Venezuela’s case, shipments to China have slowed after the United States pushed the country closer to the West, while Russia has seen parts of its oil infrastructure repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian strikes over the past two years in an effort to weaken Russia’s ability to fund its war in Ukraine. For China, the possibility of Iran collapsing and shifting toward the West would be a major problem, and their concerns have intensified as senior US officials increasingly signal that they are pursuing regime change in Iran, with President Trump openly saying that the United States will have a say in who leads Iran next.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned against attempts by outside powers to impose political change in Iran, noting that such efforts would fail and could further destabilize the region. Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of a major annual political gathering in Beijing, Wang said that “plotting a ‘color’ revolution or seeking regime change will find no popular support.” He stressed that the sovereignty of Iran, as well as other countries, must be respected and warned against foreign interference in domestic political affairs. Wang also sharply criticized the ongoing conflict, saying “this is a war that should not have happened, and it is a war that does no one any good.”

According to the Chinese foreign minister, relying on force will “provide no solution” and that “armed conflict will only increase hatred and breed new crises” in the Middle East. Chinese diplomats are now ramping up calls for an immediate halt to the fighting and a return to diplomacy. Wang urged “all sides” to return to the negotiating table “as quickly as possible,” arguing that differences must be resolved through dialogue rather than military pressure.

He added that “the people of the Middle East are the true master of this region,” and said that regional affairs should be decided by countries in the region themselves without outside interference.

This all comes as Iran navigates a major leadership transition following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes, with Iran now selecting Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the country’s next supreme leader.