Xi discusses Geneva talks with Rouhani
November 20, 2013, 5:15 am

The previous round of talks in Geneva earlier this month helped defuse tension and kept talks going, Xi told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a telephone conversation [Getty Images]

The previous round of talks in Geneva earlier this month helped defuse tension and kept talks going, Xi told Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in a telephone conversation.

“China hopes Iran seizes the opportunity, maintains the dialogue momentum, and seeks the greatest common factor to strive for the best results,” said Xi.

The recent election of a relatively moderate Rouhani has, according to analysts, boosted the chances of striking a deal between Iran and the P5+1 — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany.

China, as a party to the Geneva talks, is willing to work positively to create conditions for a comprehensive settlement of this issue, Xi said.

Rouhani appreciated China’s ‘impartial stand and its efforts to encourage talks’.

Xi also extended condolences to Rouhani over the terrorist attack on the Iranian Embassy in Beirut and said that China is against all forms of terrorism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had also spoken to Rouhani on Monday stressing “there is now a real chance to find a solution”.

Moscow has dismissed allegations that Iran is buying time to obtain a nuclear bomb. “This assessment is far from reality,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

Iran has made it clear through its negotiators that if the US and its allies want to see some compromise from Tehran, the first step would be to significantly cut back on the UN sanctions, which have steadily strengthened in recent years.

“Any agreement which does not satisfy Iran and does not recognise Iran’s (nuclear) rights and is not based on mutual respect, has no chance for success,” Iranian Foreign Minister Maohammad- Javad Zarif said last week.

Many western nations are concerned about Tehran developing a nuclear weapon, while Iranian leaders have always claimed the country’s uranium enrichment program is only for energy and medical purposes.

Source: Agencies