China urges diplomacy to deal with Iran nuclear issue

China is calling for a “diplomatic” resolution to the Iran nuclear issue as it prepared to host diplomats from Tehran and Moscow for talks in Beijing.

“In the current situation, we believe that all parties should maintain calm and restraint to avoid escalating the Iran nuclear situation, or even walking towards confrontation and conflict,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning says.

Beijing will host Russia and Iran for trilateral talks on Tehran’s nuclear program on Friday.

Beijing says the talks with Russia and Iran will aim to “strengthen communication and coordination, to resume dialogue and negotiation at an early time.”

“China sincerely hopes that all parties can work together, continuously increase mutual trust and dispel misgivings, and turn the momentum of restarting dialogue and negotiation into reality at an early date,” Mao says.

Iran, which is sworn to Israel’s destruction, has denied wanting to develop a nuclear weapon. However, its stock of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity — close to the roughly 90% weapons-grade level — has jumped, the International Atomic Energy Agency said late last month.