China urges Iran to consider global concerns over nuke programme

CHINA: China urged Iran on Wednesday to consider international concerns over its nuclear programme and be constructive, but added all sides should remain calm.

The Foreign Ministry said it had received Iran’s response to a package of proposals to resolve the nuclear standoff with the West and was “conscientiously” studying it.

“The Chinese side hopes Iran earnestly considers the concerns of the international community, and takes the necessary constructive steps,” the ministry said in a faxed statement. “We also hope that other parties remain patient and calm,” it said.

China “upholds the direction of a peaceful resolution, to create the best conditions for the early resumption of talks”. Meanwhile six world powers were studying Iran’s offer of more talks to resolve a nuclear dispute on Wednesday, but it was not clear whether Tehran’s response went far enough to avert the threat of U.N. sanctions.

The five permanent U.N. Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany, which offered Iran the incentives to stop enrichment, were tight-lipped on its response.

Earlier Iran said it was ready for “serious negotiations” on its nuclear program, offering a new formula to resolve a crisis with the West. A semiofficial news agency said the government was unwilling to abandon uranium enrichment - the key U.S. demand.

Iran delivered on Tuesday its written response to a package of incentives offered by the United States and five other world powers to persuade Iran to roll back on its nuclear program - and punishments if it does not. The world powers, the five permanent U.N. Security Council members plus Germany, have given Iran until Aug. 31 to accept the package.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, said Washington will “study the Iranian response carefully” but was prepared to move forward with sanctions against Tehran if it was not positive. The White House held off commenting until it had studied the text. The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, said the document was “extensive” and required “a detailed and careful analysis.”

U.N. Undersecretary-General Ibrahim Gambari, meanwhile, said Secretary-General Kofi Annan had urged the Iranians to be forthcoming and respond positively. “It’s a serious situation, but it has to be handled with great care and, of course, the Iranians have to meet their obligations under the NPT (Nuclear Proliferation Treaty), but we’ll wait for them,” he said.

Beijing, Tehran, Wednesday Reuters