China has called for “illegal” sanctions against Iran to be lifted after the country’s leaders met in Beijing. Representatives of Russia and Iran were hosted by China this week as the three countries “exchanged views on the Iran nuclear issue and other issues of common concern,” according to Chinese State Media.
Following the talks, China’s vice foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu called for new negotiations to be held over Iran’s nuclear programme. During Donald Trump’s first term as US President, Washington pulled out of a historic 2015 nuclear agreement which imposed curbs on Tehran’s nuclear development in return for sanctions relief. However, US calls for a new nuclear agreement following Trump’s re-election have been dismissed by Tehran, which says that no agreement will be made while severe sanctions remain in place.
Last month, the UN’s nuclear watchdog said that Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of enriched uranium, leading to renewed calls for the United States to agree a deal.
Following the meetings, Ma told reporters: “We emphasised the necessity of ending all illegal, unilateral sanctions. The relevant parties should work to eliminate the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions, pressure, and threats of the use of force.”
Since returning to power, Trump has resumed his “maximum pressure” approach to the Iranian issue, continuing from where he left off after his first term.
Last week, the former Apprentice host wrote to Tehran’s leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatening the use of military force if the country did not engage in nuclear talks.
Iran said that the letter was currently being reviewed by the Supreme Leader.
Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s foreign minister, told state media on Thursday: “Ultimately, the United States should lift the sanctions.
“We will enter into direct negotiations when we are on an equal footing, free from pressure and threats, and are confident that the national interests of the people will be guaranteed.”
This week, Washington upped the ante by imposing sanctions on the country’s petroleum minister Mohsen Paknejad.
Tehran has consistently denied that it is attempting to develop a nuclear weapon, arguing that its purchases of uranium were done so purely for peaceful reasons.
