China held a meeting with Russia and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue on Friday in Beijing.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu chaired the meeting, which was also attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.
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China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
The three parties exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of common concern.
A press conference was held after the meeting to brief the media on the meeting.
As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and participant of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), China has long called for resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through political and diplomatic means.
Friday's meeting is China's latest diplomatic efforts to strengthen communication and coordination, and create conditions for the early resumption of dialogue and negotiations, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Thursday, calling on all parties to exercise calm and restraint to prevent the Iranian nuclear issue from escalating or even shifting towards confrontation. China hopes all parties will work together in the same direction, continuously build trust and dispel doubts, and turn the momentum for restarting dialogue and negotiations into a reality as soon as possible, according to the spokeswoman.
Iran signed the nuclear deal with several major countries in 2015. The agreement imposed restrictions on Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
However, the U.S. government withdrew from the agreement unilaterally in May 2018, reinstating sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments.
Efforts to revive the JCPOA commenced in April 2021 in Vienna, Austria. Despite multiple rounds of negotiations, no substantial progress has been reported since the last talks in August 2022.
The expiration of the JCPOA in October, coupled with the new administration in the United States and changes in the Middle East situation, has made negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue more urgent.
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
China, Russia, Iran hold Beijing meeting on Iranian nuclear issue
