CHINA URGES U.S. AND IRAN BACK TO NEGOTIATING TABLE

BEIJING, OCTOBER 28 /SRNA/ - China's Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong has called on all parties involved, at an open meeting of the UN Security Council, to make a ceasefire between the US and Iran possible and help them return to the negotiating table, and urged certain members to stop creating new obstacles.

Fu said tensions in the Middle East remain high, and the consequences of the conflict are spreading and seriously affecting regional and global peace and stability.

Talks between the United States and Iran have reached a stalemate, while statements about a new round of military strikes on Iran have further raised tensions and caused deep concern, China Media Group reported.

Fu said the root causes of the current crisis are the unilateral US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, the reimposition and continued tightening of unilateral sanctions against Iran, and the policy of maximum pressure.

"The three European countries failed to meet their obligations under the Iran nuclear deal and instead cooperated with the US in imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran. Their so-called snapback of sanctions has legal and procedural flaws, seriously undermining the unity and credibility of the UN Security Council," Fu said.

He added that US and Israeli military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency /IAEA/ safeguards are the direct reason the agency is unable to carry out safeguards and monitoring at Iran's nuclear facilities.

Fu stressed that the experience of the Iran nuclear deal and UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed it, shows that political and diplomatic channels are the only way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

"Iran should honor its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons, while all parties should respect Iran's right, as a state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, to the peaceful use of nuclear energy," Fu said.

Before the meeting began, Russian representatives requested a procedural vote on holding an open Security Council meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue.

Fu backed the Russian request, saying that Resolution 2231 expired on October 18 last year and is no longer in force, and that the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency should therefore stop considering the Iranian nuclear issue.

Ignoring these facts, some Security Council members pushed for meetings on issues that are no longer on the agenda.

Fu said this undermines the authority of Security Council resolutions, fuels confrontation, deepens divisions within the body and hinders a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

China expressed serious concern over such conduct.

Fu said China calls on Security Council members to implement the provisions on the termination date of Resolution 2231, uphold the authority of the Security Council and the credibility of multilateral diplomacy, and create favorable conditions for a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

"China also calls on certain members to play a genuinely constructive role in diplomatic efforts and stop creating new obstacles," Fu concluded.