China opposes sanctions to resolve Iran nuclear dispute

BEIJING – Veto-wielding China said yesterday it opposed sanctions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, as Tehran’s nuclear negotiator held talks in Beijing aiming to fend off the West’s push to refer the dispute to the United Nations.

Ali Larijani’s one-day visit, hot on the heels of US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, comes a day after he warned that a referral of Iran’s nuclear programme to the UN Security Council would prompt the start of full-scale uranium enrichment. “We oppose impulsively using sanctions or threats of sanctions to solve problems.This will complicate problems,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a news conference.”We hope the concerned parties can take practical measures to ease tensions.”Kong said Larijani held extensive talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.He was to meet State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan in the afternoon and hold a news conference.The United States and its European Union allies say it is time for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to turn Iran’s nuclear dossier over to the Security Council.Russia has urged caution and China says it favours diplomacy over sanctions.But Zoellick, in China earlier this week, gave a positive assessment of China’s role in the nuclear stand-off, saying Washington and Beijing had no major differences on the issue.Analysts say despite its objections, China would be more likely to abstain from a vote than use its veto.China is also host to six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear programmes and some analysts say Beijing believes the North, which left the Non-Proliferation Treaty after mounting international pressure, shows the dangers of sanctions brinkmanship.The Security Council’s five veto-wielding permanent members plus Germany plan to meet in London on Monday to try to resolve differences over whether to send Iran to the council at a crisis meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog on Feb.2, diplomats said.The foreign ministers of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany would seek a consensus before the 35-nation board of the IAEA gathers in Vienna to weigh what to do about Iran.Earlier this month, Iran removed UN seals on uranium enrichment equipment and resumed nuclear fuel research.It says it does not want atomic bombs, but has the right to enrich uranium at home.But in talks in Moscow, Larijani also signalled interest in a Russian proposal to set up a joint venture to purify uranium on Russian soil.The proposal aims to prevent Iran gaining technology that could be used for military purposes.China said Russia’s offer should be seriously considered.- Nampa-Reuters”We oppose impulsively using sanctions or threats of sanctions to solve problems.This will complicate problems,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a news conference.”We hope the concerned parties can take practical measures to ease tensions.”Kong said Larijani held extensive talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing.He was to meet State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan in the afternoon and hold a news conference.The United States and its European Union allies say it is time for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to turn Iran’s nuclear dossier over to the Security Council.Russia has urged caution and China says it favours diplomacy over sanctions.But Zoellick, in China earlier this week, gave a positive assessment of China’s role in the nuclear stand-off, saying Washington and Beijing had no major differences on the issue.Analysts say despite its objections, China would be more likely to abstain from a vote than use its veto.China is also host to six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea’s nuclear programmes and some analysts say Beijing believes the North, which left the Non-Proliferation Treaty after mounting international pressure, shows the dangers of sanctions brinkmanship.The Security Council’s five veto-wielding permanent members plus Germany plan to meet in London on Monday to try to resolve differences over whether to send Iran to the council at a crisis meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog on Feb.2, diplomats said.The foreign ministers of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany would seek a consensus before the 35-nation board of the IAEA gathers in Vienna to weigh what to do about Iran.Earlier this month, Iran removed UN seals on uranium enrichment equipment and resumed nuclear fuel research.It says it does not want atomic bombs, but has the right to enrich uranium at home.But in talks in Moscow, Larijani also signalled interest in a Russian proposal to set up a joint venture to purify uranium on Russian soil.The proposal aims to prevent Iran gaining technology that could be used for military purposes.China said Russia’s offer should be seriously considered.- Nampa-Reuters