Diplomats call for end to US sanctions on Iran

Senior diplomats from Iran, China, and Russia called for an end to US sanctions on Iran during talks in Beijing on 14 March, following Tehran’s rejection of negotiations with Washington over its nuclear programme.

According to The National, China has sought to revive discussions that have stalled since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal, which led to the redisposition of harsh economic sanctions on Iran under President Donald Trump.

In a joint statement, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu emphasised the need to “terminate all unlawful unilateral sanctions,” stressing that dialogue based on mutual respect remains the only viable option.

The three countries also highlighted the importance of supporting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Earlier this week, China expressed hope that the talks would strengthen communication and coordination, with the goal of resuming dialogue and negotiations as soon as possible in order to end US sanctions on Iran.

The meeting followed a protest by Iran, which summoned the ambassadors of Britain, France, and Germany in response to a closed-door meeting at the UN Security Council on Iran’s nuclear activities.

The meeting, which included the US, France, Greece, Panama, South Korea, and Britain, was condemned by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on social media platform X, accusing the countries of “collusion” and “misusing the mechanisms of the UN Security Council.”

Since the US withdrawal from the deal in 2018, Iran has gradually expanded its nuclear activities, while international efforts to revive the deal have faltered.

The 2015 agreement had lifted sanctions in exchange for Iran limiting its nuclear programme, but the re-imposition of US sanctions has since stalled attempts to restore the deal.

President Trump has since stated that negotiations must be held while also threatening military action.

However, as reported by The National, Tehran rejects discussions with the U.S. due to the sanctions policy.

A letter from Mr Trump on the issue was sent this week to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The National, Ministry of Foreign Affairs People’s Republic of China.