China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged Iran to show “flexibility and sincerity” over it’s nuclear program amid tensions about Iran’s rising nuclear activities as described in a report to be released Wednesday by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Washington Post reports:
“China always holds that the Iranian nuclear issue should be properly solved through dialogue and cooperation,” Hong told a daily news briefing.
China is Iran’s biggest trading partner but has supported previous U.N. sanctions aimed at pressuring the Iranian government to suspend enrichment and start negotiations on its nuclear program — which it has refused to do.
Hong did not say whether China would support tougher sanctions on Iran or other new measures, but said China is firmly against the use of force in international affairs.