Talks, not sanctions

By saddling unilateral sanctions on Iran, the United States is putting its domestic law above international law and the norms guarding international relations. Such a self-serving move will only add uncertainties to solving the Iranian nuclear crisis, which is showing signs of abating thanks to the international efforts to engage Teheran in talks and negotiations.

On Monday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Washington would exempt seven economies including India, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea and Turkey from an Iranian oil embargo under its national defense authorization act for 2012. So far 18 economies have been granted such an "honor" as Washington moves to impose sanctions on importing Iranian oil later this month. China is noticeably not included in the US exemption list.

The sanctions aim to throttle Iran's alleged nuclear program by cutting its funding from oil revenues. But by seeking to impose its own will on others, the US is impairing the interests of other countries who have normal economic ties with Iran.

Beijing always opposes the practice of saddling unilateral sanctions on a third country. It does not favor exerting excessive pressure on Iran or unilateral sanctions against it. It believes dialogue and negotiation are the only way to achieve a proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and it is firmly against the use of force.

In fact, international efforts to break the Iranian nuclear impasse have already shown initial results, with two rounds of talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers - the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France and Germany - being held and a third round scheduled next week in Moscow. Teheran has held dialogues with the International Atomic Energy Agency too. The international community has every reason to continue to build on this good momentum.

The concerned parties should do more to contribute to the peaceful process and refrain from taking reckless moves that may escalate the tensions and undermine all the diplomatic efforts so far.

Washington should take new developments in the Iranian nuclear issue into consideration and stop pressing ahead with its unilateral sanctions, which are getting increasingly unpopular and look not at all promising in forcing Teheran to give in.

(China Daily 06/14/2012 page8)