China Calls for Resumption of Talks on Iran Nuclear Issue

United Nations, October 21. China has called for the immediate resumption of talks on the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA). At a controversial Security Council meeting held on Tuesday, China’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Sun Lei, made this demand while urging the US and European countries to fulfill their responsibilities.

Sun said, “China calls on the relevant parties to enhance their sense of urgency, demonstrate a sense of responsibility, promptly resume negotiations, and strive to reach consensus and achieve results.”

He emphasized, “Force and confrontation cannot resolve this issue. All parties must remain calm and exercise restraint, adhere to diplomacy and dialogue to properly manage differences, so as to avoid falling back into the vicious cycle of sanctions, pressure, and escalation.”

China highlighted that the US unilaterally withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, a major multilateral diplomatic achievement endorsed by Security Council Resolution 2231, imposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, and pursued a policy of “maximum pressure.” Sun noted that in June 2025, the US, together with Israel, brazenly attacked Iranian nuclear facilities under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

After the US withdrawal, the three European parties (E3) to the JCPOA – Britain, France, and Germany – aligned themselves with the US in imposing their own unilateral sanctions on Iran. They failed to fulfill their obligations under the JCPOA, failed to exhaust the dispute resolution mechanism, and insisted on pushing for sanctions, thereby increasing tensions and confrontation among the parties.

At the very start of the meeting, Russian UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia raised a point of order, stating that the Iran nuclear issue was no longer on the Security Council’s agenda. China supported Russia’s position.

Sun said, “I wish to point out that the E3’s claim of triggering the ‘snapback’ mechanism is legally and procedurally flawed, and the Security Council has not reached consensus on whether the E3 had the right to trigger the mechanism. Security Council Resolution 2231 was terminated on October 18, and the Security Council has concluded its consideration of the Iran nuclear issue.”

China expressed concern that forcing the Security Council to convene a meeting under an agenda item that has already been terminated would only undermine the authority of Security Council resolutions, damage the Council’s unity, and exacerbate tensions and divisions.

Sun strongly stated that despite suffering unjust treatment, Iran has repeatedly reaffirmed the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, emphasized that it has no intention of developing nuclear weapons, and has actively engaged with all parties to seek solutions. China called on relevant countries to value Iran’s sincerity and positive efforts, rather than engaging in one-sided pressure and disruptive actions.

He said, “All relevant parties should respect each other’s legitimate security concerns, ease tensions through equal dialogue, build mutual trust, and reach a solution that meets the expectations of the international community at an early date.”

As a permanent member of the Security Council and a party to the JCPOA, China has always played a constructive role on the Iran nuclear issue and has actively promoted peace and negotiations. China will continue to work with all parties to make unremitting efforts to promote the early resumption of talks, advance the political settlement process of the Iran nuclear issue, uphold the international nuclear non-proliferation regime, and promote peace and stability in the Middle East.