Through A Phone, China's Foreign Minister Submits Her State Support To Iran Regarding Nuclear Issues

Defense system at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility. (WIkimedia Commons/Hamed Saber)

JAKARTA - China has again expressed its support for Iran regarding the nuclear issue. This was conveyed by China's Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian by telephone.

On the same occasion, China also urged other parties to "stay committed to dialogue and negotiations."

"China respects Iran's sincerity and flexibility, supports Iran in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests, and asks others to remain committed to dialogue and negotiations," Qin Gang said.

In a telephone conversation between the two on Thursday evening local time, Qin said China would continue to play its part in its own way.

"China has always viewed China-Iran relations from a strategic and long-term perspective... and advanced the plan of comprehensive cooperation between the two countries to encourage solid progress in China-Iran's comprehensive strategic partnership," he said, as conveyed in a statement from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Qin also expressed China's support for Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"China is ready to cooperate with Iran to uphold basic norms governing international relations such as the principle of not interfering in the domestic affairs of other countries, maintaining common interests of developing countries, and maintaining international fairness and justice," Qin said, quoted by Antara via Anadolu.

Through the phone call, Amir-Abdollahian thanked China for China's constructive role. Amir-Abdollahian said Tehran would work with Beijing to support each other on issues related to the main interests and territorial integrity and sovereignty of each other.

"Iran supports China in playing a greater role in promoting community development with a shared future for mankind, and is willing to strengthen cooperation under this framework," he said.

Amir-Abdollahian also briefed Qin on the latest progress in talks on the reactivation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Meanwhile, the United States and Western allies argue that nuclear talks have stalled as Iran is making demands unrelated to the JCPOA, namely an agreement on Iran's nuclear activity formed in 2015 which was later canceled in 2018 by then US president Donald Trump.