Chinese envoy rules out new UN sanctions on Iran for now
- Source: Global Times
- [03:25 January 07 2010]
- Comments
China's UN ambassador Tuesday dashed Western hopes for a swift agreement on a fourth round of UN sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, saying the issue requires more "time and patience."
"This is not the right time or right moment for sanctions because the diplomatic efforts are still going on," Chinese envoy Zhang Yesui told reporters.
He said senior foreign ministry officials from China, Russia, the US, Britain, France and Germany would meet later this month to discuss Iran's nuclear activities, which Western powers suspect are aimed at developing atomic weapons, not generating electricity.
"The efforts aimed at diplomatic negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue still need some time and patience," said Zhang, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month. "Trying to bridge differences and finding a settlement through diplomatic efforts – there's still space for such efforts."
Tehran already has been hit with three rounds of UN sanctions for refusing to comply with demands that it halt sensitive nuclear activities. The US and its allies have said it is time for a fourth round of sanctions, but diplomats in New York say Russia and China are resisting.
US State Department spokesman Philip J Crowley, asked by reporters in Washington about Zhang's statement, said, "This is not a static situation," and added that "views can change."
China did not schedule a meeting on Iran during its council presidency. A Western diplomat told reporters on condition of anonymity that it was unlikely a new sanctions resolution against Iran would be passed in the first two months of 2010.
Other council diplomats have said it might take until June at the earliest to come up with a package of sanctions that would be acceptable to Russia and China.
Reuters
