Chinese FM in Teheran for talks on Iran's nuclear program

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Iran is hoping to receive Chinese support for its contentious nuclear program during a visit Tuesday by Beijing's foreign minister. Yang Jiechi was scheduled to meet Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his counterpart, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's Foreign Ministry has said. China is under pressure to take a harder line on Iran's nuclear plans - but Teheran is counting on support from Beijing and also Russia to prevent the UN Security Council from imposing more sanctions. Beijing and Moscow, both permanent Security Council members, have been resisting US calls for a third round of sanctions. China agreed to the earlier sanctions against Iran but has argued against further tough economic measures. Beijing's refusal reflects both its traditional distaste for such intervention and its diplomatic and economic ties to Iran.