China Summons Meeting With Russia and Iran to Address Nuclear Issues, UN Security Council to Discuss
The announcement comes ahead of a closed UN Security Council meeting, which has been convened by Western nations to address the situation.
The meetings in Beijing, involving the deputy foreign ministers of Iran and Russia, will discuss the ongoing nuclear programme and potential sanctions relief.
China, Iran, and Russia have been consolidating their ties, with the three countries signing a strategic cooperation treaty in January of the previous year.
The message follows reports that Russia is assisting the US in communications with Iran. Tehran remains firm in its denial of pursuing nuclear weapons,
but its activities have provoked international concern.
President Trump, during his first term, withdrew the US from a significant agreement regarding Iran’s nuclear activities,
which led to the imposition of strict sanctions against Iran. Upon taking office for the second term, Trump has announced his willingness to pursue a new agreement with Tehran,
contingent upon the support of Beijing and Moscow. However, his administration has reinstated sanctions and has not ruled out military action,
triggering anger from the Iranian side.
Iran has firmly rejected direct talks with the US as long as sanctions persist, with President Masoud Pezeshkian asserting that the nation “will not bow in humiliation to anyone”.
The Iranian government has stated that it will receive a letter from the US via an Arab diplomat, which was sent by Trump to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The upcoming Beijing meeting will follow a UN Security Council session to address Iran’s increasing uraniun enrichment activities.
The International Atomic Energy Agency has warned that Iran is significantly advancing its uranium enrichment to up to 60 percent purity, with weapons-grade levels being at 90 percent.
The meeting in New York has been requested by several countries, urging the council to ensure Iran complies with its information obligations regarding its nuclear programme.
The UNSC meeting reflects the international alarm at Iran’s breaches of the 2015 nuclear agreement and the efforts to curtail its nuclear ambitions.
