China, Iran and Russia begin talks in Beijing on the Iranian nuclear file

The official Chinese television reported that senior diplomats from Iran, Russia and China met in Beijing today, Friday, to discuss the Iranian nuclear file, days after Iran refused the American “orders” to resume the dialogue on its nuclear program.

Iran had reached an agreement with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany in 2015, according to which it agreed to reduce its nuclear program in exchange for lifting international sanctions. But US President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in 2018 during his first term.

The meeting comes in the wake of the recent American President’s attempt to resume negotiations with Tehran. During the past week, Trump sent a message to the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in which he would offer talks on a modified nuclear agreement. However, Iran rejected the offer, describing Trump’s approach to “bullying”. Iranian President Masoud Bouchakian also rejected the American initiative, saying: “It is unacceptable to us to issue orders and direct threats. I will not negotiate with you … Do what you want.” In his message to Tehran, Trump had warned, “I hope you negotiate because if we have to resort to the military option, it will be very terrible.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Wednesday that Beijing will hold a meeting that includes Russia and Iran on the Iranian nuclear issue on March 14. The Deputy Foreign Minister will chair the meeting, and will be attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Alexevic Ryabkov, and Iranian Foreign Minister Kazem Gharib Abadi. She added that the three parties will exchange views on the Iranian nuclear file and other issues of common attention. For his part, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baqai, confirmed in a statement that the agenda will include developments related to the nuclear file and the lifting of sanctions.

Yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqji said that Tehran could be open to indirect nuclear negotiations with the United States. Araqji told the daily government newspaper “Iran” in the world of politics, it is common for countries that do not want to talk directly together with each other indirectly. Araqji was answering a question about the possibility of nuclear negotiations with the United States.

(Reuters, New Arab)