(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-14 15:32

Iran should continue talking with Russia to solve the standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

"All concerned parties should step up diplomatic efforts. China hopes Iran will fully cooperate with the IAEA and adopt confidence-building measures to create the conditions for a negotiated resolution," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a news conference.

"China believes that under current conditions, the Russian proposal remains a meaningful attempt to break through the stalemate on the Iran nuclear issue. We support negotiations between Russia and Iran and hope they can still make progress."

Russia on Monday accused Iran of obstructing its diplomatic efforts to settle Tehran's nuclear dispute with the West, but the Iranians said they were still interested in a Russian compromise.