China urges global lift of Iran sanctions, boosts new alliance
China is calling for the removal of "illegal unilateral sanctions" imposed on Iran in relation to its nuclear program, according to a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday. This statement followed trilateral talks in Beijing involving high-ranking officials from the foreign ministries of China, Russia, and Iran.
After the meeting, which included Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi released a statement. He conveyed that China has presented a five-point proposal for a "balanced and sustainable resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue."
China calls for lifting sanctions
"Now the situation has reached a critical juncture again. We must buy time for peace, resolve disputes through political and diplomatic means, and oppose the use of force and illegal sanctions," the statement reads.
The Chinese authorities urged the Iranian government to " continue honoring its commitment to not developing nuclear weapons" and called on other countries' governments to "fully respect" Iran's right to "peaceful uses of nuclear energy as a State Party to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons."
Under the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the USA, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. In 2018, then-US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement and reinstated sanctions. A year later, Iran also began moving away from the terms of the agreement, enriching increasingly larger amounts of uranium beyond the designated limit of 3.67 percent.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry's proposal also included an appeal to the USA for "political sincerity" and a return to negotiations. At the same time, it urged "dialogue and negotiation" and opposed "pressing for intervention by the U.N. Security Council" and resume sanctions.
"History has proven that acting from a position of strength would not lead to the key to resolving difficult issues. Upholding the principle of mutual respect is the only viable path to finding the greatest common ground that accommodates the legitimate concerns of all parties and reaching a solution that meets the expectation of the international community," emphasized Wang.
Building an economic alliance
The sanctions imposed by the West are driving Russia, Iran, and China to strengthen their economic and political cooperation.
China has promised Russia a "no-limits" partnership and signed a 25-year, $400 billion "strategic agreement" with Iran.
All three countries are also joining the same international organizations, such as BRICS. Their trade is growing, with plans for free-trade zones being developed, along with independent payment systems and trade routes that bypass Western-controlled areas.
Meanwhile, Iran and Russia have deepened their military and political cooperation since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
