China calls for new Iran deal based on JCPOA; urges US to stop ‘maximum pressure’

China calls on parties to the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers as well as the US that has illegally left the historic agreement to seize the “critical opportunity” to revive diplomacy and reach a new agreement rooted in the previous one, urging Washington to end its pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Addressing media outlets, Chinese Ambassador to Tehran Cong Peiwu said on Tuesday that Beijing had consistently advocated for a political and diplomatic resolution to outstanding issues between Iran and the United States, and stood firmly opposed to coercive measures and unilateralism.

“The Chinese side has always supported [the idea] that Iran’s nuclear issue must be resolved through political and diplomatic means,” he stated. “We request that an agreement should be reached based on the framework of the JCPOA.”

The envoy was referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the official name of the nuclear deal, which the US ditched in 2018 before returning the illegal sanctions that it had lifted against Iran as per the accord and even piling up more coercive economic measures on the Islamic Republic. Washington has termed its hostile approach as the “maximum pressure” campaign.

He reiterated Beijing’s position that any future deal had to be built upon the foundations of the original JCPOA.

‘Time for diplomacy, not pressure’

Describing the current state surrounding the nuclear issue as a “crossroads,” Cong said a vital opportunity existed for all sides to engage in constructive dialogue, stressing that contact and cooperation had to be strengthened, not undermined.

He sharply criticized Washington’s approach, saying the United States bore full responsibility for the current impasse following its unilateral withdrawal from the JCPOA.

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“The United States…must demonstrate political goodwill, participate in these talks (negotiations aimed at relieving the sanctions and resolving the nuclear issue as well as dialogue potentially leading to a new deal), and at the same time, stop using force and ‘maximum pressure,’” the ambassador said.

Accordingly, he warned that without genuine commitment from Washington, diplomatic efforts would remain fruitless.

“Dialogue is always better than confrontation. But is this dialogue meaningful? That must be carefully examined.”

He emphasized that Iran had remained committed to diplomacy, while it was the United States that had to prove its sincerity and uphold the principle of mutual respect.

‘Recourse to snapback to neutralize diplomacy’

Cong, meanwhile, warned against attempts to bypass diplomatic channels through institutions like the United Nations Security Council.

Referring to an initiative forwarded by China on the issue, he expressed strong opposition to the re-imposition of Security Council mechanisms such as the so-called “snapback” that would return the Council’s sanctions against the Islamic Republic, arguing that such moves sabotaged confidence-building efforts.

“Resorting to the snapback mechanism renders diplomatic efforts useless, and we must be cautious in this regard.”

‘Beijing stands firm, works alongside Iran against US bullying’

The envoy also took aim at Washington’s broader geopolitical behavior, saying Beijing would not be swayed by external pressures and was committed to confronting global bullying.

“We stand firm to stop the ‘powerful’ and take necessary actions to confront US bullying,” he asserted. “This is not only to protect China’s rights, but also to safeguard the shared interests of the international community.”

He warned against a return to “a jungle-like world where the strong prey on the weak,” stressing that both China and Iran advocated for globalization, free trade, and a fair international order.

“We both seek to resist US hegemony and are willing to work with Iran to take measures against US bullying and unilateralism, and to support fairness and international justice.”

The remarks came almost a month after a high-level trilateral meeting among Iran, China, and Russia in Beijing, during which the three countries underscored their collective opposition to American unilateralism and reaffirmed support for diplomatic mechanisms like the JCPOA.

Iran: Beijing meeting urges end to sanctions and pressure, calls for dialogue

An Iranian diplomat says the Beijing meeting among Iran, Russia and China will provide a clear path to countering the US unilateralism.

In a joint statement following the talks, the three countries condemned the illegal sanctions and stressed the need for “a clear path forward” to resolve outstanding matters without interference from outside powers.

Tehran that has taken a number of legitimate retaliatory steps in the face of the United States acts of non-commitment to the JCPOA, has, for its part, repeatedly insisted that Washington, as the original violator of the 2015 accord, had to redeem its violations before Tehran resumed full compliance with its contractual obligations.

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