Global General

No consensus possible to sanction Iran: spokesman

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-07 21:40

TEHRAN - Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Sunday that no consensus possible on sanctioning Iran over its nuclear program, the official IRNA news agency reported.

Commenting on the existing disagreement among the UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany (G5+1) over Iran's nuclear program, Mehmanparast said that reaching a consensus at the G5+1 over imposing new sanctions on Iran will not easily be possible, the report said.

China on Tuesday called on all involved parties to intensify diplomatic efforts to properly address the Iran nuclear issue.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular press briefing that China believed there was still room for diplomatic efforts and the parties should work to maintain and promote the process of dialogue and negotiation for a proper resolution of the issue.

Iran has been at the center of an international dispute over its nuclear plans. The United States and Western allies have been accusing Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program. Iran has denied the accusation and stressed its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.nv