China Warns Against Iran Sanctions

(AP)  China on Thursday warned that sanctioning Iran over its nuclear program could further complicate the dispute as it threw its support behind a proposal to allow Iran to enrich its uranium in Russia.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said the Russian plan, proposed earlier this week when Iran's chief nuclear negotiator visited Moscow, "could be helpful to break the stalemate."

Kong's remarks came as Iran's High Council of National Security Secretary Ali Larijani met with Chinese officials in Beijing in an apparent bid by Tehran to strengthen support with another of its key allies.

"We agreed members of the (Non-Proliferation Treaty) have right to peaceful nuclear energy," Larijani told reporters after meetings with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan.

In turn, Tang told Larijani that all "parties concerned should step up diplomatic efforts to create favorable conditions for the resumption of talks on the Iranian nuclear issue," China's official Xinhua News Agency said.

Iran is trying to prevent the U.S. and some European nations from bringing it before the U.N. Security Council, which can impose a range of sanctions or other measures over its alleged weapons program.

The United States and its European allies are encouraging China and other nations to vote to refer Iran's case to the Security Council when the International Atomic Energy Agency holds an emergency meeting on the issue on Feb. 2.

Russia, India and China are allies and trading partners of Iran who have been reluctant to see Tehran punished or ostracized through the Security Council. All three sit on the board of governors of the IAEA.

Even if the U.S. and its allies prevail in scheduling and winning a vote at the IAEA, it is not clear that the Security Council would then vote for severe penalties. The United States is not pushing for tough economic sanctions now but has not specified what action it wants instead.

China, as one of five, veto-wielding permanent members of the Council, could block any punitive action against Tehran.

Beijing opposes "arbitrary sanctions or threat of sanctions," Kong said. "It only complicates matters."

• 1
• 2
• Next Page »