A Chinese senior diplomat said Beijing will work with all involved countries to uphold the binding nature of the United Nations Security Council resolution that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran amid the United States' offensives.
"China will work with all relevant parties to uphold the authority of the Security Council Resolution 2231 and the efficacy of the JCPOA," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said in her most recent press briefing, the ministry’s website reported.
She used the abbreviation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the formal name of the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers that was enshrined in UNSC Resolution 2231.
As per the resolution, the UN arms embargo on Iran is to expire in October, but the US is calling for the extension of restrictions despite having unilaterally quit the nuclear deal and restored sanctions on Tehran.
It has prepared a relevant resolution to put to a vote at the security council and has threatened to trigger JCPOA's so-called snapback mechanism that would restore all UN sanctions on Iran, if the proposal fails to gain the council's approval.
Washington argues that although it has exited the deal, it remains an original participant under the UNSC resolution.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has recently talked over the phone with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the importance of extending the embargo.
China and Russia have already expressed their opposition to the US proposal, stressing that Washington is not entitled to exercise authority over the terms of JCPOA or to trigger the snapback mechanism.
"We urge the US to return to the right track of abiding by the JCPOA and the security council resolution and work with all parties to uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East," Hua said.
On Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani called on the four permanent members of the UN Security Council to stand up to the US.
"Particularly, we expect Russia and China to resist this US plot," he said.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the Chinese government’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, both wrote to the 15-member council and UN chief to state their position.
"The United States, no longer a participant to the JCPOA after walking away from it, has no right to demand the Security Council invoke a snapback," Wang wrote in his June 7 letter, according to Reuters.
Lavrov also wrote in the May 27 letter that the United States was being "ridiculous and irresponsible".
"This is absolutely unacceptable and serves only to recall the famous English proverb about having one’s cake and eating it," Lavrov wrote.
Add new comment
Read our comment policy before posting your viewpoints