Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis
BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- China Thursday urged Iran to respond to a package of incentives to stop enriching uranium as soon as possible, as the six nations agreed to return Iran's nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.
"China hopes Iran will take constructive attitudes
and make positive response as soon as possible," said Foreign Ministry
spokeswoman Jiang Yu.
"Solving Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic
negotiations complies with the interests of the international community," said
Jiang, calling on parties related to make more diplomatic efforts in the nuclear
disputes and create conditions for earlier resumption of talks.
On June 6, European Union foreign policy chief Javier
Solana presented Tehran with a package on Iran's nuclear issue, backed by the
five permanent UN Security Council members -- China, France, Great Britain,
Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.
The proposal includes both incentives and penalties
aimed at persuading Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.
Jiang said the package "demonstrates the important
efforts made by the parties concerned in a bid to restart negotiations on Iran
nuclear issue."
Iran refused again on Tuesday to commit itself to the
suspension of uranium enrichment. Iran said it would respond to the package by
Aug. 22.
The foreign ministers from the six countries met on
Wednesday in Paris and agreed to return Iran nuclear issue to the UN Security
Council.
"We have no choice but to return to the UN Security
Council and take forward the process that was suspended two months ago," French
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said.
"We have agreed to seek a UN Security Council
resolution, which would make the IAEA-required suspension mandatory,"
Douste-Blazy said. Enditem