UNITED NATIONS, Aug 10: China said on Wednesday that it would not support bringing the Iranian nuclear issue to the UN Security Council and said it would not be helpful.

“The Iranian government, European Union and IAEA are currently holding crucial talks and we don’t think it will be helpful to bring the issue to the Security Council,” said China’s Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya.

Mr Wang told reporters that China supported the efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the European Union to bring about an agreement on the issue.

He refused to say whether China would veto any resolution on Iran if it was brought to the UN Security Council, saying: “It’s premature to say anything.”

He also said China was against imposing any sanctions on Iran.

Beijing with a veto power in the 15 member Security Council could also block any resolution if it was ever brought to the Security Council.

Britain, France and Germany, the ‘EU-3’ that had been negotiating with Iran in search of a way out of the standoff, were expected instead to take a measured approach to the crisis in hopes of keeping the talks alive as long as possible, said diplomats, who insisted on anonymity on grounds the issue had yet to formally land in the Security Council.

“The Europeans are expected to pursue a graduated approach, one that tries to give Iran an opportunity to stand back at each stage,” said a Western member of the 15-nation council.

If the IAEA at some point referred the issue to New York for possible enforcement action, it would create deep divisions in the council, the diplomat predicted.

“I think there is a majority concerned that Iranian behaviour is not acceptable. But on the other hand, taking punitive measures is always a difficult thing,” he said.

China and Russia, which both have veto power in the council, were expected to strongly oppose tough sanctions such as a ban on oil sales or a trade embargo, the diplomat said.