CHINA: Iran's nuclear negotiator says UN sanctions have not damaged Tehran's ties with Beijing

Iran's nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani on Friday (January 5) wrapped up a two-day visit to Beijing with an assurance that relations between China and Iran were unaffected by Beijing's support for a U.N. Security Council resolution which imposes sanctions on Tehran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology. ''Countries with strategic relations will not change their strategic conduct for the sake of making some tactical changes. We have had a long-term and very strong relationship with China,'' Larijani told a news conference at Iran's Beijing embassy. He said Tehran blamed only Washington for the sanctions, despite the fact the resolution won unanimous support at the Security Council, which groups the United States, China, Russia, France and Great Britain. "Of course we recognise the main culprit. There is no need to view all the other countries in the same light. And that main culprit will not be able to reach any conclusions, as it has its own problems which it needs to address," said Larijani. Larijani said his Beijing meetings were unrelated to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's upcoming visit, scheduled for January 9. Larijani also responded to U.S. President George W. Bush's statement on Thursday (January 4) that Washington did not see "a peaceful future with the Iranians developing nuclear weapons." Larijani said blame should fall on Israel, not Iran. ''Mr. Bush tends to speak a lot, and if he is truly in pursuit of world peace, he must be aware of his relationship (with Israel). Instead of putting an end to it (development of nuclear weapons) on the whole, because Israel suggests we are developing nuclear weapons, they take Iran's peaceful nuclear programme to the UN. This suggests that they are looking for an excuse (for conflict) in this region," said Larijani. In meetings with Larijani on Friday (January 5) Chinese President Hu Jintao urged Iran to "respond seriously" to the UN resolution. Beijing depends on Tehran for about 12 percent of its crude oil imports and has urged the resumption of talks to defuse the standoff over Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran says is for peaceful purposes.

ITN Source | January 6, 2007

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