China, Russia and Iran issue joint call for end to 'illegal' nuclear sanctions on Tehran
In a joint statement released by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, the three countries said diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on "mutual respect" were the "only effective and viable options" for addressing the issue of Iran's nuclear programme.
They added that all parties should work to "eliminate the root causes" of the problem, saying: "The three countries stressed the need to end all illegal unilateral sanctions. Relevant parties should ... abandon sanctions pressure and threats of force."
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The statement did not explicitly mention the United States, but the meeting was held after Iran rejected Donald Trump's proposal to restart nuclear talks.
During his first term as president, Trump pulled the United States out of an international deal in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.
Chinese foreign vice-minister Ma Zhaoxu appeared at a joint press conference alongside his Russian and Iranian counterparts Sergei Ryabkov and Kazem Gharibabadi, where he said: "We stressed the importance of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and its time frame, and called on the parties concerned to avoid actions that escalate the situation and jointly create a favourable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts."
The resolution Ma referred to endorsed the nuclear deal - known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action - which was also signed by China, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and the European Union.
Last week, Trump suggested restarting the talks in a letter written to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered by the United Arab Emirates. He said in an interview the day after the letter was delivered that the US would have to "go in militarily" if Tehran did not want to negotiate.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded that he would not negotiate while being "threatened", adding that Iran would not bow to US "orders" to talk.
This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright © 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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