Iran, China hold nuclear talks in Geneva

Iran, China hold nuclear talks in Geneva
Wed Nov 20, 2013 19:24:33

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has held nuclear talks with Chinese deputy foreign minister and chief negotiator in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Zarif and Li Baodong met in Geneva on Wednesday ahead of a scheduled meeting between the Iranian foreign minister and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton who is leading representatives from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany in nuclear negotiations with Tehran, Press TV reported.

Iran, and Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany are set to start a new round of negotiations in Geneva in a few hours under intense lobbying efforts and pressures by Israel to prevent a deal between Iran and the six world powers.

During the last round of talks in Geneva, a first-step agreement was within reach but the position taken by French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in favor of the Israeli regime and a lack of commitment by US Secretary of State John Kerry spoiled the negotiations.

In a telephone conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Tuesday, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called for China’s firm stance against what he described as the “excessive demands” of certain countries in nuclear talks with Tehran.

“We expect China as a major and responsible country in the international community to play its role against the excessive demands of some countries,” Rouhani said.

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, said on Tuesday that his country will continue to play a positive role in the upcoming nuclear negotiations between Iran and the six world powers.

HH/HH

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