China, Russia and Iran emphasized on Friday the need to cease all unlawful unilateral sanctions, reaffirming that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue remain the only viable and practical option for the Iranian nuclear issue.

The pledge was made after Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi held talks on the issue in Beijing.

They also urged relevant parties to stay committed to addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandoning sanction pressure or threat of force, according to a joint statement issued by the three sides.

The diplomats also called for relevant parties to refrain from moves that may escalate the situation so as to create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.

China and Russia welcomed Iran’s reiteration that its nuclear program is exclusively for peaceful purposes and not for the development of nuclear weapons, and that Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy needs to be respected, the statement said.

When meeting with the Russian and Iranian diplomats on the same day, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China hopes that all parties will work toward the same direction and resume dialogue and negotiations as early as possible.

The United States should demonstrate political sincerity and return to talks at an early date, Wang said.

He expressed opposition to pressing for intervention by the United Nations Security Council, as this will not help build confidence or bridge differences among the relevant parties under the current situation.

Initiating the “snapback” mechanism would undo years of diplomatic efforts, and must be handled with caution, Wang said.

He also called for committing to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach as historical experience has shown that seeking solutions from a position of strength will not solve the issue.

In 2015, Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries — the United Kingdom, China, France, Germany, Russia and the US — accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

But in 2018, Washington unilaterally quit the plan and reimposed sanctions under the policy of “maximum pressure”. Consequently, in 2019, Iran began to gradually scale back its obligations under the JCPOA.

The trilateral meeting came days after the US urged new talks on Iran’s nuclear program but warned of possible military action if it refuses. Iran said it will not be “bullied” into nuclear talks with the US.

Liu Zhongmin, a professor of Middle East studies at Shanghai International Studies University, said that the JCPOA lies in ruins following the US withdrawal.

Washington’s sanctions against Iran have caused great difficulties for Iran’s economy and people’s livelihoods, threatening its survival and development, Liu said, adding that such sanctions pushed Iran to accelerate uranium enrichment and heightened nuclear proliferation risks. Amid the current complex situation, China hosted the trilateral talks with Russia and Iran, voicing the urgency of avoiding deterioration of the issue, he said.

Unilateral moves by the US out of self-interest have eroded the broad international consensus and mechanisms to address urgent issues such as the Iranian nuclear issue. Under such circumstances, it requires countries such as China to step up to uphold the consensus and basis under the UN framework in dealing with those issues, Liu added.

— In association with Asia News Network