Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized on Friday the importance of diplomatic solutions in addressing the Iranian nuclear issue, opposing illegal unilateral sanctions and the threat of force.
During talks in Beijing with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, Wang outlined a five-point proposal summarizing China’s stance on the matter. He called on all parties to uphold a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security.
“All parties should actively create conditions for the resumption of dialogue and negotiations, and avoid actions that escalate tensions,” Wang stated.
He urged Iran to continue adhering to its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while emphasizing that all parties should fully respect Iran’s right, as a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Wang also called for reaching a new consensus based on the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 agreement between Iran and six other countries, including China, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
The JCPOA has faced challenges since the United States withdrew from the agreement in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions on Iran, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.
Wang expressed hope that all parties would move in the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible.
