Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian takes questions at a regular media briefing in Beijing on Aug 14, 2020. (PHOTO / FMPRC.COM.CN)

BEIJING/BEDMINSTER, New Jersey – China has welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin's proposal of holding an online summit over Iranian nuclear issue.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said this Saturday when asked to comment on Putin's proposal. 

Putin proposed on Friday holding an urgent online meeting of the heads of the five states that are permanent members of the UN Security Council with the participation of the leaders of Germany and Iran to discuss Iran and the Persian Gulf situation. 

READ MORE: China envoy asks US to change course over Iran nuclear issue

China appreciates Russia's efforts to ease tensions on the Iranian nuclear issue and to strengthen regional security, Zhao said. 

China is willing to work with parties concerned to keep close communication and coordination, and jointly promote the process of political resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. 

Zhao Lijian, Spokesperson, Foreign Ministry, China 

China has always firmly supported the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and is devoted to safeguarding peace and stability in the Middle East, said Zhao.  

"China is willing to work with parties concerned to keep close communication and coordination, and jointly promote the process of political resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue." 

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump on Saturday all but dismissed the Russian president’s call for the summit, saying he probably would not participate. 

During a news conference at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, Trump also said he intended to move next week to trigger a “snapback” of sanctions on Iran at the United Nations. 

“We’ll be doing a snapback,” Trump told reporters one day after the UN Security Council rejected a US bid to extend a UN arms embargo on Iran. “You’ll be watching it next week.” 

The US has threatened to trigger a return of all UN sanctions on Iran using a provision in a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, known as snapback, even though Trump abandoned the accord in 2018. Diplomats have said the US would face a tough, messy battle in any such move. 

The US lost its bid on Friday to extend the UN arms embargo after Putin proposed a summit of world leaders to avoid “confrontation” over the American “snapback” threat. 

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In the Security Council vote, Russia and China opposed extending the weapons ban, which is due to expire in October. Eleven members abstained, including France, Germany and Britain, while the US and the Dominican Republic were the only yes votes. 

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday the US suffered a humiliating defeat at the Security Council. 

“I don’t remember the United States preparing a resolution for months to strike a blow at the Islamic Republic of Iran, and it garners only one vote,” Rouhani said in a televised speech. “But the great success was that the United States was defeated in this conspiracy with humiliation.”