China has said Iran should meet its obligations on the nuclear issue, a day after Beijing backed a move to refer the issue to the UN Security Council.
"While Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy should be respected, the country should also meet its obligations," Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, who is in London to attend a two-day international conference on Afghanistan said.
Li made the statement during a meeting in London with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki on Iran's nuclear issue.
China holds that the Iranian nuclear issue should be settled within the framework of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
China also hopes that Iran and the European Union (EU) will continue to work out a long-term solution through diplomatic negotiations, he said.
Mottaki said it is quite helpful for Iran and China to keep consultations on Iran's nuclear issue.
China's stance is crucial for Iran, who is banking on Beijing and Moscow to resist US attempts to refer the Iranian nuke issue to the UN Security Council.
At the same time, Iran is a major source of oil for the communist nation's booming economy.
Iran has no intention to seek nuclear weapons, but it has the right to possess nuclear technology, Mottaki said.
{{/usCountry}}Iran has no intention to seek nuclear weapons, but it has the right to possess nuclear technology, Mottaki said.
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