China opposes new sanctions on Iran

China is not in favor of putting excessive pressure or imposing new sanctions on Iran over Tehran's controversial nuclear program, a senior Chinese diplomat to the UN said here on Thursday.

Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the statement at a Security Council meeting, where Colombia's UN Ambassador Nestor Osorio, also the chair of the 1737 Committee, reported the committee's latest work.

The 1737 Committee was established on UN Security Council Resolution 1737 adopted in 2006. The committee is tasked with monitoring a set of sanctions against Iran established by Resolution 1737 and subsequent Council resolutions.

The Iran nuclear issue bears on the authority of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime and peace and stability in the Middle East, Wang noted.

"China has always maintained that the relevant resolutions of the Security Council should be fully implemented, but sanctions are not the fundamental objective of resolutions," he said. "We are not in favor of putting excessive pressure or new sanctions against Iran. We are firmly against use or threat of use of force. "

According to Wang, China consistently stands for a peaceful settlement of the Iran nuclear issue through dialogue and cooperation.

"The parties concerned should continue to work on the principles of progressive development and mutual respect, advance the dialogue in pragmatic and steadfast manner, try by all means to find common ground and gradually find the solution to the Iran nuclear problem," Wang said. "This is not only in the common interests of all parties but also the wide expectation of the international community."

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s Governing Board recently adopted a resolution on the nuclear program of Iran, which supports a proposal by the P5+1 group for a comprehensive and lasting solution based on dialogue. The P5+1 group consists of Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.

"This is of positive significance to promoting cooperation between the IAEA and Iran, as well as maintaining and advancing dialogue process," Wang said.

China is willing to join the international community to expand diplomatic efforts, and is committed to dialogue and cooperation in order to play a constructive role in seeking a comprehensive, lasting and proper solution to the Iran nuclear issue, he added.

Major Western powers have long suspected that Tehran is secretly developing nuclear weapons, but Iran insists its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.