China opposes sanctions to resolve Iran dispute
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-26 19:41

China opposes sanctions against Iran's nuclear ambitions and urges countries to consider a Russian compromise, a Chinese spokesman said on Thursday, as Tehran's nuclear negotiator held talks in Beijing.

"We oppose impulsively using sanctions or threats of sanctions to solve problems. This will complicate problems," Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a news conference.

In Moscow on Wednesday, the Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani said referring Iran's nuclear activities to the U.N. Security Council would prompt Tehran to start uranium enrichment.

But he also signalled interest in a Russian proposal to enrich Iranian uranium on Russian soil -- a compromise backers say would give Iran nuclear power but restrain any moves to make weapons.

Chinese spokesman Kong said Russia's offer should be seriously considered.

"We think the Russian proposal is a good attempt to break this stalemate," Kong said.

He said Larijani held morning-long talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. The Iranian diplomat was to meet State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan in the afternoon and hold a news conference in the evening.

Earlier this month, Iran removed U.N. seals on uranium enrichment equipment and resumed nuclear fuel research. It says it does not want nuclear weapons, and has the right to enrich uranium at home.

The United States and its European Union allies, who fear Iran might move to developing nuclear weapons, say the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should turn Iran over to the United Nations' Security Council.