PHILO PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony to mark Crimean bridge constructors on Kerch Street in Sevastopol, Crimea, March 18, 2020. Alexander Nemenov / Pool via REUTERS / File Photo
BEIJING (Reuters) – China on Monday welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposed summit of world leaders to prevent “confrontation” over a US threat to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran.
The United States on Friday lost a bid to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran.
Russia and China oppose extending the arms embargo, which expired in October under a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain, with the United States and the Dominican Republic the only two to vote.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said in Beijing, saying the failure of the US resolution “again showed that unilateralism has no popular support, and hegemonic behavior will not succeed”.
The United States had to end its unilateral sanctions and adopt a rational stance, returning to the “right path” of respecting the Iran nuclear deal and Security Council decisions, Zhao added.
“As far as the Russian proposal for a summit on Iran’s nuclear issue is concerned, China welcomes and appreciates it,” he said.
“We are ready to continue to maintain close communication and coordination with all parties involved to work together to promote a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said he probably would not attend such a summit.
China, which has close economic and diplomatic ties with Iran, has often clashed with the Trump administration over its tough stance on Tehran, and became another irritant in Sino-American relations.
Report by Yew Lun Tian; Written by Ben Blanchard; Edited by Robert Birsel
.
