President Xi And Raisi Are Calling For The Lifting Of Iranian Sanctions For The Recovery Of The 2015 Nuclear Deal

President Xi Jinping and President Ebrahim Raisi. (Source Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

JAKARTA - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his rulings from Iran President Ebrahim Raisi, called for the lifting of sanctions against Iran on Thursday, as part of an integral of an on-site international agreement regarding its nuclear program.

Speaking together on the final day of President Raisi's visit to China, the two leaders called for the implementation of the 2015 Iran Nuclear Treaty, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in which Iran agreed with several countries, including the United States, to curb its nuclear program in exchange for relief from economic sanctions.

In 2018, then US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the deal, ordering the reimposition of Washington sanctions on Iran.

President Joe Biden said in 2021, the United States would return to the deal if Iran returned to compliance, but talks stalled.

"All relevant sanctions must be lifted entirely in a verifiable manner to promote full and effective implementation," President Xi and Raisi said.

China and Iran emphasize the lifting of sanctions and ensuring Iran's economic benefits are an important component of the agreement, they said.

On Tuesday, President Xi told President Raisi China would "participate constructively" in talks, to continue negotiations to implement the agreement, while expressing its support for Iran in protecting its rights and interests.

"China firmly opposes the interference of external powers in Iran's internal affairs and undermines Iran's security and stability," the leaders said in the statement.

The two leaders also organized several initiatives, including promoting e-commerce and agriculture.

The cooperation show contrasted Iran's anger in December last year over statements issued by China and Gulf countries during President Xi's visit to Saudi Arabia.

At the time, the China-Sports Cooperation Council asked Iran to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a peaceful resolution, for the issue of three islands controlled by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates.

As a result, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned China's Ambassador to Tehran in response and expressed dissatisfaction with the statement.

It is known that President Xi also received an invitation from President Raisi to visit Iran and would do so as he wished. President Xi last visited Iran in 2016 as part of a tour to the Middle East.