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China 'relents on Iran sanctions' | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Iran's top nuclear official is holding talks in China amid signs that Beijing has relaxed its opposition to a new round of UN sanctions against Tehran. | |
The US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, said China was ready to hold "serious" talks with Western powers on a new UN resolution. | |
This would mark a shift in policy for Chinese, which has strong economic ties with Iran. | |
Western powers claim Iran seeks nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies. | |
China has in the past expressed reluctance to see new sanctions imposed, and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, along with France, the US, the UK, and Russia, it has the power to veto such a move. | China has in the past expressed reluctance to see new sanctions imposed, and as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, along with France, the US, the UK, and Russia, it has the power to veto such a move. |
'Tough sanctions regime' | 'Tough sanctions regime' |
Beijing made the commitment to talks in a phone call on Wednesday, US officials told the Associated Press news agency. | Beijing made the commitment to talks in a phone call on Wednesday, US officials told the Associated Press news agency. |
Ms Rice said the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China had agreed to begin drafting a UN resolution on Iran's nuclear programme. | |
She told CNN: "China has agreed to sit down and begin serious negotiations here in New York with the others in the [group of six] ... as a first step towards getting the entire Security Council on board with a tough sanctions regime against Iran. | |
China strongly values the nuclear security issue and opposes nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang | China strongly values the nuclear security issue and opposes nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang |
"This is progress, but the negotiations have yet to begin in earnest." | "This is progress, but the negotiations have yet to begin in earnest." |
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said President Hu Jintao would attend a summit on nuclear security in Washington later in the month. | A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said President Hu Jintao would attend a summit on nuclear security in Washington later in the month. |
"We have always and will continue to push for a peaceful settlement of this issue," Qin Gang said, adding the standoff should be resolved by "diplomatic means". | "We have always and will continue to push for a peaceful settlement of this issue," Qin Gang said, adding the standoff should be resolved by "diplomatic means". |
"China strongly values the nuclear security issue and opposes nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism," he said. | "China strongly values the nuclear security issue and opposes nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism," he said. |
Meanwhile Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili arrived in Beijing for "bilateral talks and to discuss the nuclear issue", Iran's Irna news agency reported. | |
"The relationship between Iran and China is very important, and it is very important for our two countries to cooperate on all the issues," he told Iranian media. | "The relationship between Iran and China is very important, and it is very important for our two countries to cooperate on all the issues," he told Iranian media. |
On Wednesday, US media reported an Iranian nuclear scientist had defected. | On Wednesday, US media reported an Iranian nuclear scientist had defected. |
ABC News said Shahram Amiri had been resettled in the US and was helping the CIA try to block Iran's nuclear programme. | ABC News said Shahram Amiri had been resettled in the US and was helping the CIA try to block Iran's nuclear programme. |
Iran accused the US of abducting him, but Washington has denied any knowledge of the scientist. | Iran accused the US of abducting him, but Washington has denied any knowledge of the scientist. |