China welcomed Russian and Iranian diplomats on Friday to resume long-stalled talks with Iran over its nuclear program. Beijing said on Friday that long-stalled talks with Iran over its nuclear program would resume with the arrival of Russian and Iranian diplomats in Beijing.
The United States withdrew from the landmark 2015 agreement that restricted Tehran’s nuclear development during US President Donald Trump’s first term. Since returning to the White House in January, Republican President Trump has called for a new nuclear deal with Iran, but Tehran has said no such deal is possible as long as punitive sanctions remain in place.
The deal was given added importance last month after the United Nations nuclear watchdog said Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium. Beijing expressed hope that Friday’s talks would “strengthen communication and coordination, and resume talks and dialogue as soon as possible.”
“The three diplomats exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of common concern,” a public statement by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said.
State media did not provide detailed information about the discussions, which were attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Garibabadi.
Trump has re-adopted the policy of “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran imposed during his first term. This week, he sent a letter to Tehran urging nuclear talks and warning of possible military action if Iran rejected the proposal. Tehran has said that the letter written by US President Trump to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is currently being reviewed.
“Ultimately, the US must lift the sanctions,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview published in an Iranian national newspaper on Thursday. “When we are on an equal footing, free from pressure and intimidation, we will enter into direct negotiations and we are confident that the national interests of the people will be guaranteed.”
Washington intensified its pressure campaign on Thursday by imposing sanctions on Iranian Petroleum Minister Mohsen Paknejda. The US Treasury Department has also blacklisted the owners or operators of ships transporting Iranian oil to China. According to a report by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last February, Iran has increased its stockpile of highly enriched uranium to 60 percent purity.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said this week that his country “does not have nuclear weapons” and is not seeking them. Tehran has previously said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
