China champions Iran sanctions relief as Vienna meeting seeks to bring US back to nuclear deal
- China’s representative at Vienna meeting says US should remove illicit sanctions against Iran, and Iran ‘should resume full compliance on this basis’
- US is ‘aligned’ with China and Russia on some issues since none wants Iran to have nuclear weapons, says spokesman Ned Price
Wang Qun, China’s representative in the discussions on Tuesday, reiterated Beijing’s consistent stance against “illicit sanctions” against Iran, and said the US should immediately revoke its “long-arm jurisdiction” targeting third-party entities and individuals, including from China.
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China calls for Iran sanctions relief and US return to nuclear deal
“China will continue to unswervingly safeguard the comprehensive agreement, and hopes that various parties can increase their sense of urgency and seize all opportunities to push the comprehensive agreement back on the right track through fair and reasonable discussions,” Wang said.
Representatives from Iran, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain convened in Austria this week to find ways to bring the US – which took part indirectly – back into the Iran deal that offered sanctions relief for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme.
Wang said China had supported the Joint Commission – comprising signatories to the Iran deal – to initiate talks under two working groups to address the lifting of sanctions and on steps for Iran to bring its nuclear programme back in compliance with the parameters of the deal. China also supported the process of “close contact” with the US to push to restore the deal – known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – as soon as possible, he said.
The two working groups “should ensure each side can take part effectively and safeguard legitimate interests of each side. China hopes two working groups achieve progress as soon as possible and submit discussions to the Joint Commission to verify”, Wang said.