China press urges Iran to return to talks
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-20 13:44

China's state-run press on Friday urged Iran to halt nuclear work and return to talks, but warned against taking Tehran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions, backing Beijing's efforts to foster compromise.

On Wednesday the European Union began circulating a draft resolution calling on the the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to report Iran's nuclear programme to the Security Council, which can impose sanctions.

Western countries fear Tehran could use the programme to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says its intentions are entirely peaceful.

"Negotiations remain the best option, as sanctions will muddy the waters," the China Daily said in an editorial. "The crux of the matter is encouraging Iran to come back to negotiations with the European Union."

The China Daily is the country's official English-language newspaper, and generally echoes government thinking.

The IAEA is to hold an emergency meeting on Iran's nuclear work on February 2. The United States, Britain, Germany and France may use that meeting to press for Iran's referral to the Security Council.

But Russia and China, who have veto votes on the Council, are both wary of such a step.

China's Foreign Ministry has yet to publicly respond to the E.U. draft, but on Thursday its spokesman, Kong Quan, repeated that Beijing wants the standoff defused by talks between Iran and the "EU3" -- Britain, Germany and France -- who called off talks after Tehran broke U.N. seals on uranium enrichment equipment on January 10.
But the Chinese editorial also urged Iran to end nuclear trials so that negotiations could restart.

On Monday, China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States met in London to discuss the crisis. All six powers agreed that "Iran should return to full suspension of its nuclear programme", the editorial said.

"The international consensus is unmistakable and important," it said. "Iran should respond to the diplomatic efforts of the international community."