China calls for exercising restraint on Iran nuclear issue

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) – China on Thursday called on relevant parties to “exercise restraint” in the Iranian nuclear issue, a day before a tripartite meeting between Beijing, Moscow and Tehran to be held on the issue in Beijing.

“Under current circumstances, we believe that relevant parties need to remain calm, exercise restraint, and prevent the situation surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue from escalating or even descending to confrontation and conflict,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said in a news conference.

Mao expressed Beijing's hope that all sides would work to build trust and turn the momentum of resuming dialogue into reality.

She said that being a permanent member of the UN Security Council and a party to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Beijing desires “an appropriate resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means, and efforts of safeguarding the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and promoting peace and stability in the Middle East.”

China will host a meeting with Russia and Iran on the Iran nuclear issue on Friday. The meeting will be attended by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

The three parties will exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of mutual interest.

The spokesperson has described the meeting as “China’s latest diplomatic effort with the aim of enhancing communication and coordination and creating conditions for resuming dialogue and negotiation at an early date.”

Last week, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tehran would not be bullied into negotiations, after US President Donald Trump said he sent a letter urging Iran to engage in talks on a new nuclear deal.