Iran, China, Russia will meet in Beijing to discuss ‘nuclear issue’ on Friday
Iran, Russia, and China are scheduled to convene high-level talks in Beijing on Friday to address Iran’s nuclear capabilities. Mao Ning, the spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry, disclosed the meeting to journalists on Wednesday. The three nations share amicable relations and are signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal.
According to Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson, the discussions will focus on “developments related to the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions.” This meeting comes on the heels of a closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) concerning Iran’s uranium enrichment, which has surpassed 60%, dangerously close to the 90% threshold required for bomb-making.
The gathering, requested by the U.S. and its allies, could potentially address the imposition of snapback sanctions – sanctions that were lifted under the JCPOA. While the U.S. withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal during President Donald Trump’s administration, the other parties to the agreement – Britain, China, Russia, Germany, and France – may opt to reimpose international sanctions before the Security Council resolution underpinning the deal expires in October.
Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu will chair the meeting, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in attendance. Recent collaborations between Tehran and Moscow, where Iran provided drones and missiles for Russia’s operations in Ukraine, further underscore the significance of this trilateral discussion. Additionally, a joint naval exercise involving China, Iran, and Russia took place on Monday.
Despite attempts by Trump to kickstart negotiations on a fresh nuclear agreement, Iran rebuffed a letter from the former president, categorically refusing to engage in talks with “bullying” nations. President Masoud Pezeshkian firmly stated, “It is unacceptable for us that they give orders and make threats. I won’t even negotiate with you. Do whatever the hell you want.”
While Trump has expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions, he has not ruled out military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He warned, “If we have to go to the military option, it will be very, very bad for [Iran].”
Iran maintains that it is not seeking nuclear weapons, despite experts asserting that there is no civilian application for 60% enriched uranium. Russian Foreign Minister Dmitry Peskov recently announced Moscow’s willingness to assist the U.S. in engaging with Iran on its nuclear program, emphasizing Iran’s desire for respectful and constructive negotiations.
The upcoming trilateral meeting in Beijing holds significant implications for regional stability and global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Stay tuned for updates on the outcomes of this crucial dialogue.
