China has always advocated easing Iran nuclear tensions through dialogue and communication, and has made lots of efforts towards saving the 2015 deal, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday. 

Asked about a potential breakthrough that U.S. President Donald Trump showed the willingness at the G7 summit to talk with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said China always holds the view that conflict and confrontation are not solutions, while dialogue and negotiation are the right way out. 

Geng said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Beijing on Monday. During the meeting, Wang said Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal should be recognized. The Chinese foreign minister also said China understands Iran's legitimate nuclear demands and supports any efforts in upholding the Iran nuclear deal. 

Geng said China will continue to maintain and implement the 2015 deal, promote the political solution of Iran nuclear issue, and play a constructive role in easing the tensions in the Gulf. 

According to a joint statement issued at the G7 summit which concluded on Monday, leaders of the group said they fully share two objectives: to ensure that Iran never acquires nuclear weapons and to foster peace and stability in the region. 

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Trump ready to meet Iranian president in potential breakthrough

French President Emmanuel Macron said Iran's President Rouhani had expressed his willingness to meet U.S. President Trump. Trump also said he is prepared to meet Rouhani within weeks. 

However, Rouhani said Tuesday the nuclear standoff would not be solved unless the U.S. lifts all sanctions against his country. 

In a speech broadcast live on state television, Rouhani said Iran was always ready to talk. However, he stressed the U.S. should "take the first step" by "lifting all illegal, unjust and unfair sanctions imposed on Iran," otherwise Iran would continue to scale back its commitments under the 2015 nuclear deal. 

Iran agreed in the multilateral deal to limit its nuclear activities in return for lifting of economic sanctions. However, the U.S. unilaterally pulled out of the deal in May last year and subsequently reimposed sanctions against Iran. 

(Cover: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang speaks at daily press conference in Beijing, China on August 27, 2019. /Photo via Chinese Foreign Ministry)