‘Strong fists don’t mean strong reasons’: China warns Iran against interference and regime change

China warned on Sunday against trying to unleash political change in Iran as the U.S.-Israeli offensive continues, saying such efforts would lack public support and risk exacerbating instability in the region.Attempts to provoke a “color revolution” or externally driven regime change in Tehran will not succeed, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told a news conference on the sidelines of a major annual gathering in Beijing, Al Jazeera reported, citing China’s official news agency Xinhua.

Click to view real-time updates“Planning a ‘color’ revolution or seeking a change of government will not gain popular support,” Wang said.His remarks came as the United States and Israel took military action against Iran and tensions in the Middle East remained high. Wang Yi insisted that the sovereignty of Iran and other countries must be respected and urged an immediate cessation of hostilities.

In a pointed message against unilateral action, Wang Yi added: “Fists are strong but reason is not. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle.”He said: “This is a war that should not happen, and it is also a war that is not good for anyone.” “Force cannot solve the problem, and armed conflict will only intensify hatred and breed new crises.”China’s foreign minister also warned against external interference in the region and said affairs should be decided by Middle Eastern countries. “The people of the Middle East are the real masters of the region, and affairs in the region should be decided independently by local countries,” he said.Beijing has urged all parties to the conflict to resume diplomatic contacts. Wang called on “all parties” to return to negotiations “as soon as possible” and resolve differences through dialogue to achieve broader regional security.He said that China is willing to work together with countries in the region to “restore order in the Middle East, restore peace to the people, and restore world peace.”The comments came amid reports questioning the feasibility of regime change in Iran. The Washington Post quoted a confidential assessment report from the U.S. National Intelligence Council as saying that even if the United States launches a large-scale military operation, it is unlikely to dismantle Iran’s deep-rooted military and religious power structure.The report, published on Saturday, cited sources familiar with the document and cast doubt on U.S. President Donald Trump’s assertion that Washington could “purge” Iran’s leadership and appoint a preferred successor.China also condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the conflict.Separately, Wang Yi said that despite Western criticism of Moscow over the war in Ukraine, China’s relationship with Russia remains strong, calling the Sino-Russian relationship “firm and unshakable.”The claim also comes amid speculation that China and Russia are providing Iran with critical intelligence on U.S. assets in the region.