CHINA stressed its commitment to pushing for a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue on Thursday following its recent veto of a UN Security Council draft resolution on Iran sanctions, emphasizing that actions escalating tension and undermining dialogue must be rejected while every opportunity to foster diplomatic efforts should be cherished.
The Security Council voted on September 17 on a U.S.-submitted resolution to extend the mandate of a panel of experts monitoring sanctions on Iran. Russia and China, both permanent members of the Security Council, voted against it, and the draft resolution was vetoed.
Speaking at a meeting of the UN General Assembly in New York, Sun Lei, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, pointed out that the current dilemma surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue stems from the U.S. unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), its maximum pressure campaign, and its resort to military force twice during negotiations.
Sun also stressed that pushing to restore sanctions and controversial draft resolutions undermines Security Council unity and authority while hindering diplomatic efforts, noting China's veto aimed to safeguard the political settlement process, address non-proliferation concerns, and promote long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.
"Peace and stability in the Middle East cannot be achieved through external interference or bloc confrontation. Distorting or even abusing UN Security Council resolutions, and engaging in double standards and geopolitical agendas, will only undermine the efforts of regional countries to rebuild mutual trust and achieve common security," Sun said.
