Politics
20:37, 13-May-2018
Iranian FM seeks 'clear future' for nuclear deal on China trip
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Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday he hopes to forge a "clear future design" for the nuclear deal with Tehran that faces collapse after Washington's withdrawal.
He made the call in Beijing at the start of a diplomatic tour aimed at gathering reassurances on the salvaging of the 2015 agreement.
The visiting Iranian diplomat held talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
"We hope that with this visit to China and other countries we will be able to construct a clear future design for the comprehensive agreement," Zarif said.
Read more: Explainer: What is the Iran nuclear deal?
Diplomats from Iran, France, Germany, Britain, the US, Russia and China pose for photographs after they struck a deal on Iran's nuclear program on July 14, 2015, in Vienna. /Reuters Photo
Diplomats from Iran, France, Germany, Britain, the US, Russia and China pose for photographs after they struck a deal on Iran's nuclear program on July 14, 2015, in Vienna. /Reuters Photo
China is the first stop on Zarif's diplomatic tour.
Wang reaffirmed China's commitment to its strategic partnership with Iran.
China understands Iran's circumstance and the decisions it has taken and will safeguard Iran's national interests and actively contribute to regional peace, Wang stressed.
He urged all parties concerned to settle any differences through dialogue. China firmly supports multilateralism and international agreements and the Iran nuclear deal is one of the achievements of multilateral negotiation that contributes to Middle East peace and stability, the Chinese top diplomat said.
China made great efforts in forging and finally closing the deal in 2015 and it will continue to maintain the deal, he added.
The ministers also agreed to deepen their countries' strategic partnership and expand cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The Iranian foreign minister will fly later to Moscow and Brussels to consult the remaining signatories to the nuclear agreement which has been denounced by US President Donald Trump.
"We hope our visit to Beijing and to other signatories in the next few days will reach a consensus on the future plan of the deal," said Zarif.
In his talks with Wang, the Iranian minister said Tehran is willing to work and communicate with all parties supporting the comprehensive agreement.
Trump's withdrawal from the deal last week has infuriated Washington's allies in Europe as well as China and Russia.
(CGTN's Ren Xueqian also contributed to this story.)