Chinese FM stresses diplomatic means in resolving Iran nuclear issue

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed on Friday the need for diplomatic means in resolving disputes surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue, and opposed illegal unilateral sanctions or the threat of force. 

Wang issued a five-point keynote summarizing China's position on the issue during talks with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who were in Beijing for a tripartite meeting on the Iran nuclear issue. 

All parties should uphold the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, actively create conditions for the resumption of dialogue and negotiations, and avoid actions that escalate tensions, he said. 

Wang said Iran should continue to adhere to its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while all parties should fully respect Iran's right, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. 

He also called for reaching a new consensus based on the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed in 2015 by Iran and six other countries, including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. 

However, during Trump's first term, the U.S. withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.

Wang expressed hope that all parties will move in the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.