China calls for U.S. to return to JCPOA

China believes that the United States' return to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and lifting of sanctions against Iran holds the key to breaking the impasse on the Iranian nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday.

Iran announced on Tuesday that it would immediately restrict on-site inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). On the same day, foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Britain issued a joint statement saying they deeply regretted Iran's move.

In response, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said China attaches great significance to the Iranian nuclear issue. It has always actively promoted the relevant political and diplomatic settlement process, and upheld the international nuclear non-proliferation regime as well as peace and stability in the Middle East. China has played an important role in pushing the JCPOA back on track.

At the foreign ministers' meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue in December last year, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi stressed that all parties should unswervingly preserve the JCPOA, fairly and objectively resolve differences on compliance issues, properly handle regional security issues and promote the unconditional U.S. return to the deal at an early date.

The spokesperson said China will continue to preserve the JCPOA, and work for the resumption of full and effective compliance at an early date to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

He noted that the current Iranian nuclear issue is at a critical juncture, and opportunities and challenges coexist. He said China has always believed that the U.S. return to the JCPOA and lifting sanctions on Iran holds the key to breaking deadlock.

China appreciates the reaching of a temporary bilateral technical understanding on the safeguards issue between Iran and the IAEA, and noticed that both sides have spoken highly of the result, he said.

China hopes that relevant understandings would be faithfully implemented, and calls on other parties to play a constructive role in this regard, he added.