China urges diplomacy on Iran N issue - Gayo Lues

China believes dialogue and cooperation is the only correct and effective solution to resolve the Iran nuclear issue and that sanctions will not fundamentally address the problem, Wen said at a joint press conference with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing on Thursday.

He described the Iranian nuclear issue as sensitive and said the use of force against Iran will cause turbulence and turmoil in the Middle East and the world, which would be to the detriment of all parties.

He welcomed Iran’s willingness to resume dialogue with the P5+1 – Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany.

He urged all parties to seize the opportunity and seek a comprehensive, long-term and appropriate solution to the issue through dialogue and negotiation.

Wen also defended oil ties with Iran in defiance of recent EU oil sanctions against Tehran while reassuring the world that China will abide by the international laws and UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

His remarks come as Merkel, at the start of her visit to China, urged Beijing on Thursday to use its influence to persuade Tehran to give up its nuclear program.

The US, Israel and their allies accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program and have used this allegation as a pretext to sway the UNSC to impose four rounds of sanctions on Iran.

As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran maintains that it has the right to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

China and Russia, as two veto-wielding powers at the UNSC, have been calling for the resumption of talks over the Iranian nuclear issue, expressing opposition to further sanctions against Tehran.

Tehran says it is ready to continue the talks based on common ground, adding, however, that it has no intention of backing down on its nuclear rights.

AR/AZ