China Opposes More Iran Sanctions

China suggested yesterday that it would not permit the U.N. Security Council to levy a new set of economic sanctions against Iran despite Tehran’s refusal to heed the council’s call for a nuclear freeze, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, July 3).

The council has twice imposed sanctions against Iran in the past six months, but the nation has continued to expand its uranium enrichment program.  Iranian officials have nevertheless shown some flexibility recently by meeting with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana and International Atomic Energy Agency head Mohamed ElBaradei (see GSN, June 25).

China’s U.N. envoy yesterday encouraged such talks.

“We feel negotiation is the way out of this. ... Also it is my belief that other parties who have a direct interest in finding a solution on this issue should in a way, engage in direct dialogue negotiations with the Iranians," said Ambassador Wang Guangya.

Questioned about recent reports that Western powers were drafting a new sanctions resolution, Wang discouraged such action.

“If somebody is thinking of circulating a sanctions resolution at this moment, when ElBaradei and Mr. Solana are conducting negotiations, (it) is not helpful,” he said.

“It has been China's position that we are always cautious and have reservations on sanctions whenever sanctions are being discussed or imposed,” Wang added.

China is one of five permanent council members that have the power to veto any proposed resolution, and it has the rotating presidency of the council this month (Kyodo News/Yahoo!News, July 4).

Meanwhile, Russian and Iranian officials disputed the completion date of a Russian-built nuclear power plant in Iran (see GSN, May 25).

“Construction will be completed in two months, and we should receive atomic fuel for the launch of the reactor in accordance with the contract with the Russian side," said Mohamed Amiri, head of a group of Iranian nuclear and radiation safety agencies.

He said Russia would deliver nuclear fuel for the reactor at Bushehr “at any time.”

That assessment, however, was not shared by a Russian official who said that a financial dispute over Iranian contractual payments remains unresolved.

“Construction cannot be finished in September," said Irina Yesipova, spokeswoman for the Russian contractor Atomstroiexport.  Furthermore, Iran would need six months to begin operating the reactor after Russia delivers the fuel, she said (Associated Press/International Herald Tribune, July 3).

“It’s perfectly clear … that the launch can happen no earlier than 2008,” agreed Sergei Kiriyenko, head of the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom (Agence France-Presse/Sharewatch.com, July 4).

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