China attaches great importance to Iran’s offer and its intention to register the Leader’s fatwa as an international binding document at the United Nations, Hong Lei, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman told reporters on Wednesday.
“China welcomes Iran’s position. Iran is a party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). We hope relevant sides can strengthen dialogue and cooperation to increase trust and make progress as soon as possible towards a long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear energy issue,” the spokesman said.
The Leader of the Islamic Revolution issued a fatwa on February 22, 2012, in which Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons “a grave sin” from every logical, religious and theoretical point of view.
On Tuesday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the Islamic Republic considers Ayatollah Khamenei’s fatwa as a binding document.
“There is nothing more important in defining the framework for our nuclear activities than the Leader's fatwa”, the spokesman said.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.
Iran argues that as a committed signatory to the NPT and a member of the IAEA, it is entitled to develop and acquire nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
MOL/