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Beijing insists on win-win cooperation with Tehran: Envoy
China’s Ambassador to Iran Zhong Peiwu said his country insists on win-win cooperation with Iran to bring prosperity to the people of both nations.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the Chinese diplomat said that Beijing is perusing the implementation of recent agreements reached between the leaders of the two countries.
China is Iran’s largest trade partner. The two Asian countries have expanded their relations in recent years, especially following the West’s illegal pressure on Iran due to its peaceful nuclear program.
Back in 2021, both countries signed a 25-year strategic cooperation agreement to further expand their cooperation in various fields, especially in economy.
“China and Iran agree on and practice multilateralism, and both countries hope to build a more equitable international order,” the Chinese ambassador said, adding that Tehran and Beijing have same positions on the issue which can establish a foundation for cooperation between the two countries.
Pointing to Iran’s tensions with the West over its nuclear program, Zhong said Beijing has always insisted that resolving Iran’s nuclear issue is only possible through political, diplomatic, and peaceful means.
“We oppose threats, coercion, and sanctions pressure. Certain countries insisted on triggering the snapback mechanism. This move was not constructive and has caused a serious setback in the diplomatic process concerning Iran’s nuclear issue.”
China calls on the United States and European countries to show political goodwill, step up diplomatic efforts, bring the Iranian nuclear issue back onto the diplomatic track, and prevent any further escalation of tensions, he said.
In 2015, Iran and world powers – including France, Britain and Germany – reached an agreement that saw the easing of international sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.
But the United States, during Trump's first term in office, unilaterally withdrew from the accord in 2018 and reimposed biting economic sanctions.
Tehran adhered to the deal until Washington's withdrawal, and then began rolling back on its commitments.
The European parties to the deal also failed to fulfill their commitment to the agreement. Several rounds of talks to revive the agreement failed, and in August, the UK, Germany and France triggered the so-called “snapback” process on the pretext of Iran’s non-compliance with its obligations, leading to the re-imposition of the UN sanctions.
In a letter to the UN chief, Iran, China and Russia have denounced as “legally and procedurally flawed” the attempt by the three European countries aimed at restoring all UN Security Council sanctions against Iran previously lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.