Beijing Hails Momentum of Growing Ties With Tehran

Tehran-Beijing relations have seen a “sound momentum of all-round development” under the guidance of the two countries’ heads of state, China’s top diplomat said. 
Chinese Foreign Wang Yi made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday, according to Xinhua. 
He also reiterated Beijing’s resolve to continue expanding its relations with Tehran under any circumstances.
“No matter how the international situation changes, China will follow the directions outlined by the two countries’ heads of state to unswervingly develop its relations with Iran, continue to expand practical bilateral cooperation in various fields, strengthen coordination and cooperation with Iran in international and regional affairs, and push for new progress in China-Iran comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said. 
Amir-Abdollahian said Iran hopes to maintain high-level exchanges with China, deepen practical cooperation in fields such as agriculture, strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs, and promote the continuous development of Tehran-Beijing relations.
He also expressed Iran’s support for the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping. 
The two ministers later discussed the latest status of the 25-year plan for strategic partnership between the two countries. 
Wang highlighted the two Asian states’ common views on most regional and international issues, appreciating Tehran’s support for China’s participation in the Astana process for the restoration of peace in Syria along with Iran, Russia and Turkey. 

Language of Ambiguity 

Amir-Abdollahian also pointed to the development of talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which offered sanctions relief to Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program. 
The JCPOA has been unravelling since the United States pulled out in 2018 and reimposed tough sanctions, prompting Tehran to react by rowing back on its commitments. 
Negotiations began in April 2021 to work out how both sides can resume compliance, but have been lingering on a few outstanding differences. 
The two parties are currently responding to an initiative put forward by the European Union coordinator in early August. 
Iran submitted its latest views with a constructive approach aimed at concluding the talks, but the comments were not well received by the US who described it as “not constructive” although reiterating a commitment to continue the course of diplomacy. 
“Iran’s response did not put us in a position to close the deal … It is unfortunate that Iran’s response to us took us backwards,” US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a briefing on Wednesday. 
He said Washington was not going to conclude a deal that is not in the US national security interest.
Patel added, however, that the US would continue to work through that process and is currently reviewing Iran’s response.
Tehran says its latest changes were aimed at removing any ambiguity form the text to prevent future misinterpretation. 
Amir-Abdollahian stressed that Iran is always committed to reaching the agreement, but will not accept the US attempt to achieve its own goals through bullying. 
“We are still serious about reaching a good, strong and lasting agreement, but the US must distance itself from using a language of ambiguity in the text so that a deal can be concluded in the shortest possible time,” he told Wang.  
The foreign minister also thanked China for its support of Iran’s rights. 
Wang expressed opposition to unilateralism in the international arena, saying China would continue to support Iran in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests. 
He also expressed confidence that Iran has the wisdom to properly cope with the changes, firmly safeguard its lawful rights and interests, and continue to occupy the international moral high ground.