BEIJING (AFP) — China said Tuesday that UN-imposed sanctions would not resolve the stalemate over Iran's nuclear programme, after the United States raised the prospect of new tough action.
"I don't think sanctions are the way out. The ultimate solution of the Iranian nuclear issue is through negotiations and dialogue," foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told reporters.
The United States warned Tehran on Monday that it faced possible new UN sanctions over its suspected nuclear programme.
"We urge Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities or face further implementation of the existing United Nations Security Council sanctions and the possibility of new sanctions," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
The warning followed a new report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's atomic watchdog, that said Iran had not frozen uranium enrichment activities as instructed by the UN.
Such activities can be a key step towards making nuclear weapons.
The IAEA noted Iran had in fact installed additional uranium-enriching centrifuges, and was testing more advanced centrifuges as well.
China is among a group of nations seeking a resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue, along with the four other permanent Security Council members -- the United States, Russia, Britain and France -- plus Germany.
China, along with Russia, has often resisted calls for sanctions against Iran, although it has voted in favour previously.
Jiang insisted Tuesday diplomatic avenues remained the best way to solve the international deadlock over Iran's disputed nuclear programmes.
"We hope relevant parties will step up diplomatic efforts and settle the issue peacefully through dialogue and negotiations," Jiang said.
China, as a permanent Security Council member, has the power to veto any potential new sanctions.
Washington and its allies say Iran's nuclear energy program could be a cover to develop atomic weapons.
Iran insists it has the right to develop nuclear technology, which it says is aimed at generating electricity for its growing population.
Tehran, under several sets of US and UN sanctions already, denies concealing a covert atomic weapons drive.
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