Source: PressTVChinese Foreign Ministry has rejected the idea of imposing additional sanctions against Iran, calling for further dialogue to resolve concerns around the Islamic Republic's nuclear issue.
“We always believe that dialogue and cooperation is the right way to
solve the Iranian nuclear issue," said China's Foreign Ministry
spokesman Hong Lei on Thursday, adding that sanctions cannot
fundamentally resolve the case.
“The pressing task now is [for] all parties concerned [to] step up diplomatic efforts,” he added.
Hong's remark came following the distribution of the latest report
by Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Yukiya Amano to the 35 members of the Board of Governors about Iran's
nuclear activities.
In its report, the IAEA has reportedly accused Iran of conducting
activities related to developing nuclear weapons before 2003, claiming
that such activities “may still be ongoing.”
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday fiercely dismissed
the IAEA report, insisting that Iranians will never give up even "an
iota' of their legitimate rights.
As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has so far
opposed plans by US-led Western states to impose tougher United Nations
sanctions against Iran.
“We hope the IAEA will be fair and objective, and actively committed
to clarifying the salient issues through cooperation with Iran,” Hong
said.
