China And Russia Join To Lift Sanctions On Iran

China confirmed its support for what it described as Iran's peaceful nuclear program, saying it was - along with Russia - pushing for the lifting of Western sanctions on Iran, according to Iranian news agency Tasnim on Tuesday.



"We are trying with Russia to secure a final agreement between Iran and the P5+1 and have the sanctions on Iran removed," China's Assistant Foreign Minister, Zheng Zeguang, was "ed as saying by the agency.



Nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers, which includes the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the U.S., France, Russia, China and the U.K. – plus Germany resumed in Vienna on Tuesday. 



Under the current guidelines, a deal must be reached by Nov. 24.



Zeguang's remarks came at a meeting with Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, in Tehran on Monday, the agency added.



The Chinese minister also suggested that Tehran, Beijing and Moscow "establish a mechanism to hold regular talks on regional developments."



Iran asked China to have an active role in order to resolve issues surrounding its nuclear program, while officials from the two countries agreed to improve their bilateral ties, according to IRNA, Iran's official news agency, on Monday. 



Eshaq Jahangiri, the First Vice President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, called for Beijing's active role in resolving Iran's nuclear issue, the news agency added.



Iran has long maintained that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.



Coupled with low oil prices, the country's economy has sagged under the weight of sanctions from the U.S. and its allies. The Islamic Republic has insisted that the measures be lifted as an end result to the talks.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Ankara