Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi on Wednesday, said China supports Iran holding talks on its nuclear programme with the United States and opposes the use of force and “illegal” unilateral sanctions to try to resolve the issue.
In a statement, Wang told his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araqchi, during talks in the Chinese capital that Beijing was willing to deepen coordination and cooperation with Tehran on international and regional affairs.
“The Chinese side commends Iran's promise not to develop nuclear weapons and respects Iran's right to utilise nuclear energy peacefully,” Wang said.
The meeting came ahead of further US-Iran nuclear talks this Saturday and after Washington imposed sanctions on some Chinese refiners for buying Iranian oil in recent weeks.
On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign ministry said Araqchi had informed his Chinese counterpart of the latest situation of the “indirect talks between Iran and the US” and thanked China for its productive stance on Iran's nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions.
US President Donald Trump has sought to pursue a campaign on Tehran, including driving Iranian oil exports to zero.
Iran, in 2015, agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions in a deal with the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. But in 2018 Trump, a year into his first term, pulled out of the pact.
DAILY POST reports that Tehran and Washington started negotiations again earlier this month with the aim of placing limits on Tehran's nuclear programme.
China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has backed Tehran as the US pressure mounts.
The United States has so far sanctioned two China-based small independent “teapot” refiners for purchasing Iranian crude.
Chinese imports of Iranian oil last month increased to an all-time high as buyers stocked up amid worries that further U.S. sanctions on Tehran could tighten supplies.
