FM urges dialogue to solve Iran issue

BEIJING - China opposes any threat to use military force to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, as tension is building in the region after threats from Israel and oil sanctions by the European Union, Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

"We have consistently upheld and urged dialogue and negotiation as the only way to resolve disputes between countries, while force only escalates confrontation and instability," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at the regular news conference.

A five-member team from the UN International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Teheran on Monday for two-day talks on Iran's disputed nuclear program, a day after the Islamic state responded to tightened EU sanctions by halting oil sales to British and French companies.