China urges Russia, Iran to continue nuclear talks (Reuters) Updated: 2006-03-14 20:05 Iran should continue talks
with Russia aimed at brokering a compromise in the international standoff over
Tehran's nuclear plans, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
There was "still space" for a negotiated settlement in the deepening
confrontation that has pitted Iran against increasingly impatient Western
powers, who say Tehran wants to be able make atomic weapons and may push the
dispute to the United Nations.
"All concerned parties should step up diplomatic efforts. China hopes Iran
will fully cooperate with the IAEA and adopt confidence-building measures to
create the conditions for a negotiated resolution," spokesman Qin Gang told a
regular news conference in Beijing.
He was referring to the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic
Energy Agency.
Also on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met in Beijing with
Iranian envoy Mohammed Javad Larijani, brother of Iran's chief nuclear
negotiator Ali Larijani.
During their talks, Li urged countries involved to remain patient and avoid
taking actions that could "complicate the situation", according to a report on
the Foreign Ministry's Web site, www.fmprc.gov.cn.
Iran faces a possible U.N. Security Council resolution as Western countries
move to curtail its plans to enrich uranium. On Tuesday, the permanent members
of the Security Council, including China, will meet to discuss a draft statement
on Iran's nuclear plans.
In recent days, Iran has sent uncertain signals about the Russian plan, which
would allow it to develop nuclear power but oblige it to enrich atomic fuel in
Russia under international inspections. The United States and European Union say
Iran may seek to divert enriched fuel to weapons development.
On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he was "extremely
disappointed" with Iran's behaviour in the two countries' talks.
But Qin repeated China's position that Iran and other powers must seek
diplomatic compromise, and Russia's plan still offers the best way out of the
"stalemate."
"We support negotiations between Russia and Iran and hope they can still make
progress," he said.
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