China supports Russian proposal for Iranian uranium

China today said it supported a Russian proposal to allow Iran to enrich its uranium in Russia.

“It could be helpful to break the current stalemate,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan.

His remarks came as Ali Larijani, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, met Chinese officials in Beijing in an apparent effort to strengthen support with its key ally.

Iran is trying to prevent the US and some European nations from taking it before the UN Security Council, which can impose a range of sanctions or other measures over its alleged weapons programme.

China – as one of five veto-wielding permanent members of the council – could block any punitive action against Tehran. Kong said China opposes “arbitrary sanctions or threat of sanctions”.

“It only complicates matters,” he said.

Earlier this week Larijani, Iran’s High Council of National Security Secretary, met Russian Security Council chief Igor Ivanov in Moscow and was positive about the Russian proposal to allow Tehran to enrich its uranium in Russia.