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China agrees to Iran sanction
Source: Agencies |
May 19, 2010, Wednesday
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Major powers, including China and Russia, have agreed on a draft sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program and will share it with the full United Security Council today (Beijing time).
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Washington legislators of the pact yesterday.
The announcement appeared an implicit rebuff to a nuclear fuel-swap deal that Brazil and Turkey worked out with Iran, although China - the major power most reluctant to sanction Iran - welcomed that deal and urged more talks with Tehran.
"We have reached agreement on a strong draft with the cooperation of both Russia and China," Clinton told US lawmakers. "We plan to circulate that draft resolution to the entire Security Council ..."
Clinton said the agreement was reached among the five permanent Security Council members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - as well as Germany.
Iran has been accused of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons, a claim it denies.
Iran agreed on Monday to send some of its uranium abroad, reviving a fuel-swap plan drafted by the UN to keep Tehran's nuclear activities in check.
But Tehran made clear it did not intend to suspend domestic uranium enrichment that Western governments have said appears aimed at giving it the means to make nuclear weapons.
Western powers have said the fuel swap offer promoted by Brazil and Turkey will not be enough to ease their worries and Israel, which regards Iranian nuclear capability as a direct threat, dismissed it.
"This announcement is as convincing an answer to the efforts undertaken in Tehran in the last few days as any that we could provide," Clinton said, repeating that Washington had many questions about the fuel-swap deal.
She said major powers "are proceeding to rally the international community on behalf of a strong sanctions resolution that will, in our view, send an unmistakable message about what is expected from Iran."
However, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said he was encouraged by the fuel swap.
"China expresses its welcome and appreciation for the diplomatic efforts all parties have made to positively seek an appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," Yang told a regular news briefing in Beijing.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu later said the Chinese government hoped the deal would "benefit the process of peacefully resolving the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations."
Iran yesterday urged nations to look at the big picture.
"If the Western countries continue seeking excuses, it will be clear that they are not after a solution to the issue and have no logical option on the table," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast.
He told a weekly press briefing that he was optimistic the deal would go forward after nations had time for more careful consideration.
United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told Washington legislators of the pact yesterday.
The announcement appeared an implicit rebuff to a nuclear fuel-swap deal that Brazil and Turkey worked out with Iran, although China - the major power most reluctant to sanction Iran - welcomed that deal and urged more talks with Tehran.
"We have reached agreement on a strong draft with the cooperation of both Russia and China," Clinton told US lawmakers. "We plan to circulate that draft resolution to the entire Security Council ..."
Clinton said the agreement was reached among the five permanent Security Council members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - as well as Germany.
Iran has been accused of using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons, a claim it denies.
Iran agreed on Monday to send some of its uranium abroad, reviving a fuel-swap plan drafted by the UN to keep Tehran's nuclear activities in check.
But Tehran made clear it did not intend to suspend domestic uranium enrichment that Western governments have said appears aimed at giving it the means to make nuclear weapons.
Western powers have said the fuel swap offer promoted by Brazil and Turkey will not be enough to ease their worries and Israel, which regards Iranian nuclear capability as a direct threat, dismissed it.
"This announcement is as convincing an answer to the efforts undertaken in Tehran in the last few days as any that we could provide," Clinton said, repeating that Washington had many questions about the fuel-swap deal.
She said major powers "are proceeding to rally the international community on behalf of a strong sanctions resolution that will, in our view, send an unmistakable message about what is expected from Iran."
However, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said he was encouraged by the fuel swap.
"China expresses its welcome and appreciation for the diplomatic efforts all parties have made to positively seek an appropriate solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," Yang told a regular news briefing in Beijing.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu later said the Chinese government hoped the deal would "benefit the process of peacefully resolving the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations."
Iran yesterday urged nations to look at the big picture.
"If the Western countries continue seeking excuses, it will be clear that they are not after a solution to the issue and have no logical option on the table," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast.
He told a weekly press briefing that he was optimistic the deal would go forward after nations had time for more careful consideration.
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