Russia and China Urge U.S. to Lift Iran Sanctions and Resume Nuclear Talks | Politics News

Deputy foreign ministers of Russia, China, and Iran call for multilateral talks to end ‘unlawful’ US sanctions.

Representatives of Iran, Russia, and China have urged the administration of United States President Donald Trump to lift sanctions imposed on Tehran over its rapidly advancing nuclear program, while calling for the resumption of multilateral talks on the issue.

The three nations “emphasized the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions,” stated China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, reading from a joint statement issued on Friday. He was joined by his counterparts from Russia, Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich, and Iran, Kazem Gharibabadi.

“The relevant parties should work to eliminate the root causes of the current situation and abandon sanctions, pressure, and threats of the use of force,” Ma said.

Iran’s Gharibabadi described the meeting as “very constructive and positive,” while accusing “some countries” of creating “an unnecessary crisis” to undermine Tehran.

Later on Friday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was scheduled to meet with the three senior diplomats.

The talks represent the latest effort to resolve the Iran impasse, as Trump attempts to reach out to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to restart negotiations.

Any progress in talks with the Trump administration requires the support of Russia and China, both permanent members of the United Nations Security Council alongside the US, France, and Britain.

The Security Council’s approval paved the way for the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which Trump abandoned in 2018 during his first term as president, triggering years of tensions and conflicts in the broader Middle East.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was permitted to enrich uranium only up to 3.67 percent purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran’s program revealed its stockpile had grown to 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds), with a fraction enriched to 60 percent purity.

Iran maintains that its nuclear program is peaceful.

While Iran has stated it will not negotiate under threat, its economy has been severely impacted by US sanctions. Protests over women’s rights, the economy, and Iran’s theocracy in recent years have shaken the government.

Last Friday, Trump claimed he had sent a letter to Khamenei, urging negotiations but also warning of potential military action.

In response, Khamenei mocked the US president, stating he was not interested in talks with a “bullying government.” He lamented that Tehran “negotiated for years, reached a complete and signed agreement,” only for Trump to “tear it up.”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also stated that he would not negotiate with the US while being “threatened,” and Iran would not comply with US “orders” to talk. However, he had previously said in a speech to the UN that Tehran was “ready to engage.”

Other Iranian officials have hinted at the possibility of negotiations, and the recent meeting in Beijing could signal Tehran’s openness to new talks.