China renews call for diplomacy on Iran

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=127037§ionid=351020104


China says a draft UN Security Council resolution against Iran does not mean the end of diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear program.

"The circulation of the draft resolution at the Security Council does not mean that the door for the diplomatic efforts has been closed," Li Baodong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said on Wednesday.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council (the United States, Russia, Britain, France, and China) and Germany began discussing the draft resolution on Wednesday, RIA Novosti reported.

"We have repeatedly stressed that even though the six countries launched the discussion of sanctions against Iran, diplomatic efforts should not be halted," Li said.

"Countries that maintain regular, legitimate economic and trade relations with Iran should not be punished due to Iran's nuclear issue," he added.

The draft resolution was introduced by the US on Tuesday only one day after Iran, Turkey, and Brazil signed a declaration in Tehran that names Turkey as the site of a nuclear fuel swap in which Tehran would exchange its low-enriched uranium for 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment.

"We welcome and attach importance to the agreement that Iran signed with Brazil and Turkey, and this is a positive step forward in the right direction," the Chinese envoy said.