In a press conference on Tuesday, Zhao Lijian said that China had noted that indirect negotiations would be held between the US and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue with the EU’s facilitation.
“We appreciate the EU’s efforts in restarting the negotiation on resuming compliance,” the spokesman noted, referring to EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s trip to Tehran last week which led to the resumption of the talks.
He put the blame for the current “crisis” regarding the 2015 Iran nuclear deal on the US and said, “[The US] needs to fulfill its commitment of returning to the JCPOA, actively respond to Iran’s legitimate concerns and work toward an early resumption of the negotiation for progress to be made.”
The Chinese diplomat stressed that diplomatic negotiations were the only right way to resolve the issue, adding that safeguarding the JCPOA is in the common interest of the international community.
He highlighted China’s continued commitment to “the political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue,” saying that Beijing would continue to participate constructively in negotiations, bring the JCPOA back to its normal track as soon as possible, defend the international non-proliferation system, and maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.
“At the same time, we will not waver in defending our own legitimate rights and interests,” Lijian said.
Iran and the US resumed indirect talks on Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, with EU’s facilitation to revive the JCPOA.
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