Iran's top envoy in China ahead of sanctions call

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator has arrived in China for talks that could determine whether Tehran will face a fresh round of United Nations sanctions. China, which can veto UN Security Council resolutions, was on Thursday still insisting that an alternative should be found, if possible.

Reuters

The Iranian envoy Saeed Jalili's visit to China comes a day after Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, said China now appeared ready for “serious" talks with Western powers on Iran.

Jalili is due to hold talks with China’s Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, along with other officials. He was invited by a senior Chinese diplomat who advises top leaders on foreign policy, the official Chinese Xinhua news agency reported.

China’s foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday it was working for a peaceful resolution on Iran, a big supplier of crude oil to China.

Qin also said that the country's President, Hu Jintao, plans to attend an international summit on nuclear security in Washington from 12 April.

US President Barack Obama had in April 2009 called for the summit to be established as part of his drive to work towards a world without nuclear weapons.

China has not publicly commented on Jalili's visit, nor has it said whether it would back new sanctions.

Meanwhile German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday discussed Iran's nuclear programme, along with international climate policy, in a phone call with Chinese Premier Wen Jaibao.

She described the conversation as "detailed and friendly".

Iran, for its part, insists it has the right to nuclear technology, and that Western fears it is seeking to make nuclear weapons are unfounded.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, on Thursday hit back at new talk of sanctions, saying they were an empty threat that has been ineffective against Tehran for the past 30 years.

Beijing has backed previous UN resolutions on Iran.