China urges resumed Iran nuclear talks after meeting nuke envoy

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi urged renewed talks on Iran's nuclear program in remarks to Teheran's top nuclear negotiator, state media reported Friday. China, one of five veto-holding permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, is being furiously lobbied by both Iran and the United States, which is pushing for a new UN resolution imposing additional sanctions on Teheran. Beijing, which has extensive business ties with Iran, backed two earlier resolutions but has repeatedly opposed proposed new sanctions aimed at compelling Iran to freeze uranium enrichment and meet other council demands. "The Iranian nuclear issue is now at a crucial moment," Yang was quoted by the Xinhua News Agency as saying late Thursday in a meeting with Saeed Jalili, who replaced Ali Larijani in October.