By Country / Iran
China Calls On Iran To Suspend Uranium Enrichment
February 21, 2006
Inside Iran's uranium-enrichment plant in Isfahan (file photo) (epa)
21 February 2006 -- China today called on Iran to restore a moratorium on uranium enrichment to facilitate a negotiated resolution of the dispute over its nuclear program.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said China hopes that talks in Moscow on a Russian proposal aimed to help resolve the standoff will be successful.
Iranian and Russian negotiators are discussing Russia's offer to enrich uranium for Iranian power plants on its soil to allay international fears Iran may be seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
The talks are seen as a last chance to resolve the crisis before Western governments seek UN sanctions.
China, which has increasingly lucrative energy ties with Iran, is seeking a negotiated solution to the standoff.
(Reuters, AFP)