BEIJING, Sept 5: China said on Tuesday it still wanted big powers to negotiate with Iran even after Tehran defied a UN deadline to stop enriching uranium.
The Chinese stance, echoing Russia, underlined obstacles to a US-led push for consideration of sanctions against Iran in the UN Security Council, where Beijing and Moscow wield vetoes.
Washington’s EU allies, also hesitant about sanctions, were looking to talks this week to explore hints by Iran that it could negotiate over the extent of its nuclear fuel programme, which the West fears is a disguised bid to build atom bombs.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana was tentatively expected to meet Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani in Vienna on Wednesday, although diplomats said the day and venue for the talks could still change.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said resolving the nuclear issue required committed diplomatic efforts.
“But imposing sanctions will not necessarily get us there, and may even prove counter-productive. The parties involved should be cautious about moving towards sanctions,” Wen told Reuters and a small group of foreign media.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference: “We have consistently stood for the resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation and dialogue.”
They were Beijing’s first public comments on Iran since the Aug 31 UN deadline to halt enrichment passed.
Russia, another big trade partner of Iran and building the first Iranian nuclear power reactor, said after the deadline’s expiry that while Iran’s agenda was doubtful, sanctions were a ‘dead end’ and a negotiated compromise the only solution.
CONFRONTATION: Mr Wen urged Iran to avoid deeper confrontation.
“We also hope Iran will heed the concerns of the international community and take constructive steps,” he said.
The United States says the enrichment programme is aimed at producing nuclear weapons. Tehran, the world’s fourth largest oil exporter, says it is to meet civilian energy needs.
Germany has publicly signalled it is losing patience with Iran and the United States has said it is consulting European allies about possible sanctions against the Islamic state.
But diplomats say there is scant enthusiasm for sanctions in the 25-nation EU, given Iran’s position as a major oil supplier to the bloc and market for EU exports, as well as a sense that diplomatic possibilities may not yet be exhausted.—Reuters
