China vows to ‘safeguard’ Iran nuclear deal

BEIJING, China — China on Wednesday voiced regret over US President Donald Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal and vowed to “safeguard” the agreement.

“China regrets this decision made by the US,” foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a regular press briefing.

Geng said China will maintain “normal economic and trade exchanges” with Iran despite Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 accord and reimpose sanctions on Tehran.

“China calls on all relevant parties to assume a responsible attitude” in order “to return at an early date to the right track of implementing the deal,” he said.

“China will continue to uphold an impartial, objective and responsible attitude, remain in dialogue with all parties and continue to devote itself to safeguard and implement the deal.”

The spokesman reiterated Beijing’s opposition to unilateral sanctions and “long-arm jurisdiction.”

Putting aside more than a decade and a half of diplomacy by Britain, China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and past US administrations, Trump called for a “new and lasting deal” when he announced the US would reimpose the “highest level” of sanctions on Iran due, in part, to its continued sponsoring of terror groups and other activities throughout the Middle East, as well as what he called the weaknesses of the “horrible” agreement.