Representatives from Iran, Russia, and China have demanded the United States to lift the sanctions imposed on Iran regarding its nuclear program and asked for the reinstatement of multilateral talks on the issue. In a joint statement released on Friday, the three countries insisted on the “necessity of nullifying all unlawful unilateral sanctions” and pressured the nations involved to address the root causes of the situation, repeal sanctions, and cease threats of force.
Iran’s representative at the meeting, Kazem Gharibabadi, praised the discussions as “very constructive and positive,” while blaming “some nations” for creating an unnecessary crisis to hinder Tehran. On the same day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was scheduled to meet with the top diplomats from the three countries.
The talks represent the latest effort to resolve the Iranian deadlock, as President Trump seeks to establish contact with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a bid to initiate talks. However, progress in negotiations with the Trump administration will require the support of Russia and China, both permanent members of the UN Security Council. The council’s endorsement of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal paved the way for its implementation, but Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018, leading to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
According to the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was only permitted to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity and maintain a stockpile of 300 kilogrammes (661 pounds). The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated that Iran’s stockpile had increased significantly to 8,294.4 kg (18,286 pounds) as it enriches a fraction of the stockpile to 60% purity. Despite the escalation, Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.
The impact of US sanctions on the Iranian economy has been substantial, and the country has seen protests against the government in recent years. In response to a letter from Trump urging talks but warning of potential military action, Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei dismissed the proposal, claiming that Tehran would not negotiate with a “bullying government.” However, other Iranian officials have expressed signs of openness to negotiations, and the recent meeting in Beijing may indicate a potential willingness to engage in new talks.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/14/iran-russia-china-call-on-us-to-lift-sanctions-and-restart-nuclear-talks?traffic_source=rss
