China said on Monday that Iran’s selection of Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s new supreme leader was made in accordance with its constitution.

Speaking at a regular news conference in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, said China had taken note of media reports on the development and described the decision as an internal matter for Iran.

“Iran’s election of a new supreme leader is a decision based on its constitution,” Guo said in response to a question about the reported appointment.

According to media reports, Assembly of Experts, a clerical body responsible for selecting Iran’s supreme leader, announced on Sunday that Mojtaba Khamenei had been chosen as the country’s third supreme leader.

Mojtaba Khamenei, born in 1969, is the son of Ali Khamenei.

He is the Iran’s longtime supreme leader who was reportedly killed in joint strikes by the U.S. Armed Forces and the Israel Defence Forces, according to media accounts.

China said it would continue to follow developments related to the situation in Iran. (Xinhua/NAN)