Chinese authorities support the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold an online summit of the" five " countries - permanent members of the UN Security Council, Germany and Iran, dedicated to the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian nuclear program (JCPOA). Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Monday that China would stand with other countries to defend the agreements that were reached on the Iran nuclear deal.
"We welcome Putin's initiative to hold an online summit on the Iranian problem," he told a regular briefing. "China is always in favor of maintaining the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and <...> is ready to strengthen cooperation with all interested parties for the sake of a political settlement of the Iranian issue."
According to the diplomat, Beijing supports Moscow's position, which in the international arena helps to reduce tensions related to Iran. "China will make every possible effort to ensure stability in the Middle East," Zhao Lijian summed up.
On August 14, Putin suggested holding an online summit of the five countries, Germany and Iran in the near future, dedicated to the problems of implementing the JCPOA. According to the statement of the Russian leader published on the Kremlin's website, the purpose of this event is "to outline steps to avoid confrontation and aggravation of the situation in the UN Security Council."
The US resolution to extend the arms embargo against Iran on Friday did not get the necessary number of votes in the UN Security Council. Washington offered to extend it until "until the Security Council decides otherwise." Russia and China were opposed, the United States and the Dominican Republic were in favour, and Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, South Africa, Tunisia, Great Britain and Vietnam abstained.
Restrictions on the import of weapons to Iran under the terms of the nuclear deal expire on October 18, 2020.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Creative Commons
Based on materials from TASS