Iranian nuclear issue calls for more sincerity in critical phase

Negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue are entering a critical phase. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US State Department have declared that June 9 and June 10 will witness the first direct Iran-US talks for decades. This will also be the first meeting between Iran and the U.S.as an adjunct to the Iranian nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers (Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, and Germany).

Iran has said that dialogue between Iran and the U.S. is required as most sanctions against Iran are being implemented by the United States, and has revealed that Iran will also talk with Russia after the Iran-US discussions.

Under the interim deal made last November between Iran and the six world powers, Iran agreed to slow down the enrichment of uranium in exchange for a release of 4.2 billion U.S. dollars in oil revenues. The parties involved also agreed to reach a final agreement on July 20, 2014.

This year has witnessed no substantial progress in the talks. The U.S. and Iran announced that they had encountered major differences of opinion at the latest meeting held in mid-May. However, the prospect of reaching an agreement as scheduled is not entirely gloomy. American economic and religious delegations have made recent trips to Iran. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has stated: "A deal between the two parties is possible by the end of July."

The highs and lows of negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue over the past 10 years demonstrate that the patience, confidence and sincerity of the parties involved are always put to the test each time a turning point looms.

The substance of the Iranian issue lies in the fact that neither party is able to resolve its strategic suspicions towards the other. The western countries and Israel do not believe that the Iranian nuclear program serves for civilian purposes only, while Iran remains suspicious that the U.S. has designs on regime change in Iran. The measures taken by the United States against Iraq and Syria, and its statements about the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula, have given Iran further grounds for concern.

The Iranian nuclear issue is a matter concerning the stability both of the Middle East and of the global financial and energy market. China continues to maintain that dialogue and negotiations serve as the only proper and effective way to solve the Iranian nuclear issue. This conforms to the interests of all parties involved - a comprehensive agreement which respects Iran's right to civil nuclear power will benefit global peace, and reduce the fears of the international community that Iran might be developing nuclear power for military use.

Today, the negotiations on the Iranian issue have entered a critical phase in which all parties involved are seeking to establish a long-term agreement. China hopes that all parties involved will take constructive measures to seek mutually beneficial cooperation, spur progress in the negotiations, and create the conditions for a proper and comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue for the long term.