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China opposes Iran UNSC referral

TEHRAN: Iran was given crucial backing from China Saturday in its standoff with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, with Beijing saying it opposed US efforts to have the Islamic republic referred to the United Nations Security Council.

“There is no reason to send the issue to the Security Council,” Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said in a press conference with his Iranian counterpart, Kamal Kharazi.

“It would only make the issue more complicated and difficult to work out,” Li said, contradicting Washington by saying “the Iranian government is having a very positive attitude in its cooperation” with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Li refused to speculate on whether China would use its veto in the Security Council in the event of Iran’s case being sent there. He did say he had told US Secretary of State Colin Powell and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw “that China supports a solution in framework of the IAEA”.

Nuclear talks: Iran sought a compromise at talks on Saturday with Britain, France and Germany to avoid a dispute over its nuclear programme being referred to the United Nations Security Council and to avert the risk of sanctions.

An Iranian negotiator said some problems remained on the second day of talks in Paris but he still hoped an understanding could be reached with the European Union trio, who want to persuade Tehran to stop enriching uranium. “There are still a few sticking points that have to be resolved but things are moving and we hope that things can be resolved tonight,” Iranian delegate Sirus Naseri said during a break in the talks at the French Foreign Ministry.

Law to outlaw nuclear weapons: IRNA news agency said on Saturday that lawmakers had drafted a bill, to go to parliament next week, outlawing the state from developing nuclear weapons in a bid to show the world that Tehran’s atomic ambitions were entirely peaceful.

“Parliament intends to make it a law ... that Iran does not need atomic arms, to prove to the world that the US and Israel are lying,” it quoted lawmaker Hamid Reza Hajbabaei as saying. agencies

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