标签： Asia

Beijing prepares to host the fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) commencing Wednesday, with approximately 2,100 members converging to deliberate on China’s developmental trajectory. The formulation of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) emerges as the cornerstone agenda item, positioning this gathering as pivotal for shaping the nation’s socio-economic blueprint.

The session’s framework, ratified during Sunday’s Standing Committee meeting, outlines comprehensive proceedings. Political advisers will examine two critical documents: the Standing Committee’s work report and a comprehensive assessment of proposal handling since last year’s assembly. In a demonstration of China’s integrated governance model, CPPCC members will participate as non-voting delegates in the concurrent National People’s Congress session to engage with the Government Work Report and related documents.

A pre-session press conference is scheduled for Tuesday at 3 PM in the Great Hall of the People, where spokesman Liu Jieyi will address domestic and international media regarding conference preparations and field inquiries. This transparency mechanism underscores the advisory body’s role in China’s political architecture, facilitating cross-sector consultation on national policy formulation and strategic objective setting.

Iran has officially confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in what it describes as a coordinated military assault by United States and Israeli forces. The announcement, delivered through state-affiliated media outlets early Sunday, marks a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

According to Nour News, which maintains direct connections to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Khamenei ‘attained martyrdom while performing his official duties at his Tehran office’ during Saturday’s operations. The attack reportedly resulted in multiple casualties within the leader’s immediate family, including his daughter, son-in-law, grandchild, and one daughter-in-law.

In response to the incident, the Iranian cabinet has declared a 40-day national mourning period. An official government statement characterized the event as a ‘brutal attack by the criminal US government and the sinister Israeli regime,’ praising Khamenei’s 37-year leadership as sagacious and visionary.

The Iranian government has pledged to hold those responsible accountable, warning that perpetrators would ‘regret their actions.’ Following constitutional protocols, leadership responsibilities will temporarily transition to a triumvirate consisting of Iran’s president, judiciary chief, and a designated jurist from the Constitutional Council, as outlined in Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a separate statement through its Sepah News outlet, condemning the attack as a ‘criminal and terrorist act’ that violated international norms. The IRGC vowed that Iran would exact ‘a hard, decisive, and regret-inducing punishment’ against those responsible.

Public demonstrations erupted across multiple Iranian cities following the announcement, with mourners expressing both grief and demands for retaliation. The events unfold against the backdrop of escalating military engagements, with Iran having launched counterstrikes against US and Israeli military installations throughout West Asia in response to Saturday’s initial operations.

Khamenei, born in 1939, assumed Iran’s highest leadership position in 1989 following the death of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. His death creates a significant power vacuum in a nation already grappling with regional tensions and international sanctions.

In the wake of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s death during coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel, Iran has announced the formation of an interim leadership council to assume national governance responsibilities. The development was confirmed by Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, during a televised address on state-run IRIB TV.

The unprecedented military operation, which targeted Tehran and several other Iranian cities including Tabriz, Qom, and Isfahan on Saturday, resulted in the deaths of multiple high-ranking Iranian officials alongside the Supreme Leader. Among the casualties were Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Abdolrahim Mousavi, Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour.

Larijani outlined the constitutional basis for the transitional government, citing Article 111 of Iran’s Constitution which mandates that the president, judiciary chief, and a constitutional jurist will collectively assume leadership duties during such a vacancy. The security official characterized the nation as ‘mournful and angry’ while vowing a decisive response to what he described as aggressive actions by Israel and the United States.

In his remarks, Larijani presented a critical geopolitical analysis, suggesting that Israel strategically seeks to fragment Iran to establish dominance across West Asia. He further asserted that the United States had ‘fallen into Israel’s trap,’ arguing that despite the ‘America First’ doctrine promoted by President Donald Trump, Israeli interests appeared to dominate US foreign policy decisions.

The attack prompted immediate retaliatory measures from Iran, which launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israeli territory and US military installations throughout the region. This exchange represents one of the most significant escalations in regional conflicts in recent years, raising concerns about broader regional stability and the potential for further military confrontation.

In a significant development following coordinated US-Israeli military operations, President Donald Trump has asserted that achieving a diplomatic resolution with Iran has become substantially more feasible. The statement came during a televised interview on Saturday evening, mere hours after confirmation of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death.

Trump, in a detailed phone conversation with CBS News, characterized the recent military campaign as strategically effective, suggesting it has created unexpected opportunities for negotiation. ‘The pathway to diplomacy appears much clearer now than it was just twenty-four hours ago, obviously,’ the President remarked, indicating a calculated shift in geopolitical dynamics.

When questioned about Iran’s leadership transition, Trump acknowledged the emergence of ‘promising candidates’ to succeed Khamenei, though he declined to specify particular individuals or factions. This commentary suggests Washington is monitoring Tehran’s political reorganization with strategic interest.

Regarding Iran’s retaliatory measures, Trump displayed measured satisfaction, noting the response fell substantially below anticipated levels. ‘The countermeasures align with our projections, though we had prepared for significantly more robust engagement,’ he stated, implying US defenses had successfully mitigated potential threats.

Earlier that day, Trump had utilized social media to announce the continuation of military operations, emphasizing that ‘precision bombing campaigns will persist uninterrupted throughout the coming week, or as long as operational requirements dictate.’ This dual-track approach—combining sustained military pressure with diplomatic overtures—marks a complex evolution in US strategy toward Iran.

The administration appears to be navigating a delicate balance between demonstrating military resolve and creating space for potential negotiations amid Iran’s unprecedented leadership crisis.

The United Nations Security Council convened an urgent session on Saturday, February 28, 2026, in response to rapidly deteriorating conditions across the Middle East following coordinated military operations by United States and Israeli forces against Iranian targets. The emergency meeting was formally requested by a coalition of nations including China, Russia, France, Bahrain, and Colombia.

China’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Fu Cong, expressed profound concern regarding the timing and nature of the military actions, characterizing them as ‘shocking’ given their occurrence during active diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran. The ambassador emphasized the critical need for political sincerity among all involved parties and urged an immediate return to dialogue channels.

The military engagement initiated by US and Israeli forces triggered immediate retaliatory measures from Iran, which launched counterstrikes targeting American and Israeli military installations across multiple Arab nations. The conflict rapidly expanded to involve Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Lebanon by Saturday evening.

Ambassador Fu underscored China’s consistent position regarding respect for national sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity of Iran and other regional nations. He voiced particular distress over the significant civilian casualties resulting from the escalating violence, stressing that ‘the red line of protecting civilians in armed conflict must never be crossed.’

The Chinese diplomat reiterated Beijing’s firm opposition to the use or threat of force in international relations, calling instead for strict adherence to the UN Charter’s principles. He emphasized that indiscriminate military actions remain unacceptable under international law, including humanitarian provisions that mandate civilian protection and safeguard civilian infrastructure.

‘Force represents an inadequate pathway for resolving international disputes,’ Ambassador Fu stated during the emergency session. ‘The dangerous spillover effects of escalating Middle East tensions benefit no nation. The only viable solution lies through diplomatic engagement and negotiated settlements.’

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, US and Israeli forces launched unprecedented coordinated strikes against multiple Iranian targets on February 28, 2026. Dubbed “Operation Epic Fury” by the Pentagon, the massive missile offensive represents a fundamental shift in the longstanding conflict between Tehran and Western powers.

The operation targeted Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure, including production facilities, storage sites, and launch capabilities—a clear attempt to degrade Tehran’s primary regional deterrent. Unlike previous limited strikes, including the 2025 nuclear site attacks that prompted measured Iranian responses, this campaign appears designed to fundamentally alter Iran’s military and political landscape.

Notably, strikes hit a compound housing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with Israeli officials confirming the 86-year-old leader was specifically targeted. President Trump simultaneously addressed Iranians directly via video message, urging them to “take over your government” in what experts interpret as an explicit regime change objective.

This military action follows months of diplomatic efforts in Oman and Geneva that ultimately failed to bridge differences over Iran’s ballistic missile program and support for regional proxy groups. Tehran had consistently rejected limitations on its missile capabilities, considering them vital to national security doctrine.

Iran has promised “crushing” retaliation, though its conventional capabilities have been significantly degraded by the strikes. Regional security analysts warn that Tehran may leverage unconventional capabilities through proxy forces including Hezbollah, Iraqi Shia militias, and Yemen’s Houthis, potentially increasing terrorism risks globally.

The operation proceeds without congressional authorization, relying instead on presidential Article 2 powers. Under the War Powers Act, the administration has 60 days to conclude operations or seek formal congressional approval, creating a political timer on military actions.

With both sides facing existential stakes and no clear diplomatic off-ramp, the region braces for potentially prolonged conflict that could redefine Middle East power dynamics for generations.