China opposes sanctions to resolve Iran dispute
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-26 19:41

LONDON MEETING

Russia and China -- who wield veto power in the Council along with the three other permanent members -- have urged other solutions to the standoff. The other members are the United States, Britain and France.

China is also hosting stop-start six-party talks, including Russia and the United States, aimed at ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme.

Kong said all the countries involved should "intensify diplomatic efforts" to broker a solution before the IAEA meets on February 2 to debate sending Iran to the Security Council.

The Council's veto-wielding permanent members plus Germany plan to meet in London on Monday to try to resolve differences over what to do about Iran.

Larijani's visit came just a day after the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick left China following a three-day visit.

On Wednesday, Zoellick gave a positive assessment of China's role in the nuclear stand-off, saying Washington and Beijing had no major differences on the issue. Kong, the Chinese spokesman, declined to directly endorse that assessment, simply repeating Beijing's general stance.

Analysts say despite its objections, China would be more likely to abstain from a vote than use its veto. But Kong said Iran should have the right to peaceful nuclear power.

"All Non-Proliferation Treaty countries' rights to peacefully use nuclear power should be respected, but we must emphasise that these countries should also strictly abide by the relevant regulations," he said.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has said that if sent to the Security Council, his country would immediately halt voluntary dealings with the IAEA, which include snap checks on its atomic sites.

Iran, going beyond its Non-Proliferation Treaty obligations, allows impromptu inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog.

Mottaki urged Britain, France and Germany to renew talks they halted this month after Iran resumed its nuclear fuel research.

Kong said China has received no "formal invitation" from Iran to take part in the kind of compromise Russia proposed.

"We hope all sides will use their wisdom to provide new proposals that will create conditions for reviving negotiations," he said.