On Iran nuclear issue, China seeks solutions to accommodate 'legitimate concerns of all sides'
Beijing calls for resolving issue through political, diplomatic means
ANKARA
China on Thursday said it supports negotiations with "all parties" and seeks solutions to the simmering Iranian nuclear issue that accommodate the legitimate concerns of "all sides."
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Lin Jian told reporters that Beijing "consistently" advocates for resolving the lingering issues through "political" and "diplomatic" means, and supports Iran in maintaining "dialogue."
He was commenting on reports that the US has ordered the evacuation of non-essential personnel from various parts of the Middle East, especially Iraq, due to the potential for regional unrest.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian affirmed Wednesday that his country will not yield to “American arrogance” regarding its nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump said he is "less confident" compared to "a couple of months ago" about reaching a nuclear deal with Iran.
Iran and the US resumed nuclear diplomacy in April, with Oman acting as mediator. Since then, they have held five rounds in Muscat and Rome.
While both sides have acknowledged some progress, a decisive breakthrough has yet to be achieved.
Uranium enrichment has emerged as a key sticking point in the negotiations, with the US calling for its dismantling and Iran insisting the program will continue.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said he does not expect talks with the US to yield results and asserted that Iran “needs no one’s permission” to enrich uranium.
Trump has threatened military action against Iran if a new nuclear agreement is not reached to replace the 2015 nuclear deal, from which Washington withdrew in 2018.
*Writing by Aamir Latif
