Iran will join Russia and North Korea at a major military parade in Beijing next week, China’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, marking a rare public appearance by leaders under Western sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will stand alongside Chinese President Xi Jinping during the September 3 event, which marks the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will also attend, the ministry said.
China said 26 heads of state and government will participate in the parade, including leaders from Belarus, Serbia, Indonesia, and Slovakia. The only EU leader attending will be Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico, according to the ministry.
The parade will feature tens of thousands of Chinese troops and advanced weapons systems on display at Tiananmen Square, including hypersonic missiles, fighter jets and air defense platforms.
UN Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua will represent the United Nations at the event, which Beijing has framed as a show of international solidarity with the Global South.
Iran’s attendance comes months after President Pezeshkian was notably absent from in May, despite Tehran’s deepening military and diplomatic ties with Moscow.
The lack of visible representation led to domestic debate in Iran over the optics of its relationship with Russia.
