China backs Iran s nuclear talks with US opposes illegal sanctions

BEIJING - China supports Iran holding talks on its nuclear program with the United States and opposes the use of force and illegal unilateral sanctions to try to resolve the issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Irans foreign minister on Wednesday.

Beijing is willing to deepen coordination and cooperation with Tehran on international and regional affairs, Wang told Irans Abbas Araqchi during talks in the Chinese capital, according to a ministry statement.

The Chinese side commends Irans promise not to develop nuclear weapons and respects Irans right to utilise nuclear energy peacefully, Wang said.

The meeting came ahead of further U.S.-Iran nuclear talks this Saturday and after Washington imposed sanctions on some Chinese refiners for buying Iranian oil in recent weeks.

The Iranian foreign ministry said on Wednesday that Araqchi had informed his Chinese counterpart of the latest situation of the indirect talks between Iran and the US and thanked China for its productive stance on Irans nuclear programme and the lifting of sanctions.

U.S. President Donald Trump has sought to pursue a maximum pressure campaign on Tehran, including driving Iranian oil exports to zero.

In 2015, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions in a deal with the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. But in 2018 Trump, a year into his first term, pulled out of the pact.

Tehran and Washington started negotiations again earlier this month with the aim of placing limits on Tehrans nuclear programme.

China, the largest buyer of Iranian oil, has backed Tehran as U.S. pressure mounts.

The U.S. has so far sanctioned two China-based small independent teapot refiners for purchasing Iranian crude.

Last month Chinese imports of Iranian oil surged to an all-time high as buyers stocked up amid worries that further U.S.