Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei holds ‘positive’ view of China, ambassador says

Iran’s new supreme leader shares his late father’s “positive” view of relations with China, Tehran’s ambassador told a security forum in Beijing at the weekend.

Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli also suggested that while Tehran would charge “service fees” for vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, China may receive “special” treatment because it was a “friendly” nation.

“[Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s] view, as well as that of our martyred leader, regarding Iran’s relationship with China has been positive, active and supportive,” Fazli told the World Peace Forum.

Khamenei became the supreme leader after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in an air strike on February 28, the first day of the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Tehran has confirmed that the younger Khamenei was wounded in the attacks, which also killed his wife and son, but has denied reports that he had been disfigured or disabled.