China "Understanding Iran's Stance on Protecting National Interests... Supporting Nuclear Deal Restoration Talks"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister in charge of diplomacy, announced on the 15th that he supports the resumption of negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA - Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action).

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry's website on the 16th, during a phone call with Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Iran's Foreign Minister, Wang Yi stated, "China understands Iran's legitimate position to safeguard its national interests regarding the Iran nuclear issue," and added, "We support the resumption of negotiations to restore the Iran nuclear deal and hope to promote negotiations together with Iran and other countries in a direction that contributes to regional peace and stability."

In response, Minister Amir-Abdollahian said, "Iran will focus on resuming nuclear deal negotiations and believes that all relevant countries must fulfill their obligations."

The Iran nuclear deal was concluded in 2015 between Iran and six countries: the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and China) plus Germany. It includes provisions to limit Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for lifting sanctions against Iran.

However, after former U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally declared withdrawal from the agreement in 2018 and reinstated sanctions, Iran also partially resumed its nuclear activities.

Since early April, Iran has been negotiating in Vienna, Austria, with five countries excluding the U.S. to restore the nuclear deal, but the talks have been suspended since June following the inauguration of Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, a hardliner toward the U.S., as Iran's president.