Foreign minister's Iran warning
Source: Agencies |
March 7, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi yesterday repeated a warning that Beijing is opposed to Iran possessing nuclear weapons, but defended Tehran's right to peaceful nuclear power.
Yang, speaking at a news conference as part of China's annual parliamentary session, reiterated that China opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran against a backdrop of growing international tension over Tehran's nuclear activities.
Yang's comments come a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog's chief said he had "serious concerns" about possible military dimensions to Tehran's atomic activities, and after US President Barack Obama left open the possibility of military action if Iran builds a nuclear weapon.
"We are opposed to any country in the Middle East, including Iran, developing and possessing nuclear weapons," Yang said, adding that Iran nonetheless had the right to pursue nuclear activities for peaceful purposes. "We oppose unilateral sanctions," he added.
China has repeatedly urged a negotiated solution to the dispute over Iran's atomic activities, which Western governments say appear aimed at mastering the means to make nuclear weapons.
Yang also called for more time for talks between Iran and the permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Obama on Monday that Israel had not made any decision on attacking Iran's nuclear sites, sources close to the talks said, but Netanyahu gave no sign of backing away from possible military action.
Yang, speaking at a news conference as part of China's annual parliamentary session, reiterated that China opposed unilateral sanctions on Iran against a backdrop of growing international tension over Tehran's nuclear activities.
Yang's comments come a day after the United Nations' nuclear watchdog's chief said he had "serious concerns" about possible military dimensions to Tehran's atomic activities, and after US President Barack Obama left open the possibility of military action if Iran builds a nuclear weapon.
"We are opposed to any country in the Middle East, including Iran, developing and possessing nuclear weapons," Yang said, adding that Iran nonetheless had the right to pursue nuclear activities for peaceful purposes. "We oppose unilateral sanctions," he added.
China has repeatedly urged a negotiated solution to the dispute over Iran's atomic activities, which Western governments say appear aimed at mastering the means to make nuclear weapons.
Yang also called for more time for talks between Iran and the permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Obama on Monday that Israel had not made any decision on attacking Iran's nuclear sites, sources close to the talks said, but Netanyahu gave no sign of backing away from possible military action.
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