BEIJING – China, Russia and Iran emphasized the need to terminate all unlawful unilateral sanctions as their diplomats met in Beijing on Friday for discussions on the Iranian nuclear issue.

They also stressed that relevant parties should focus on addressing the root cause of the current situation and abandon sanction pressure or the threat of force, according to a joint statement issued after talks between Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov Sergey Alexeevich and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi.

FULL TEXT: Joint Statement of the Beijing Meeting between China, Russia and Iran

“The three countries reiterated that political and diplomatic engagement and dialogue based on the principle of mutual respect remains the only viable and practical option in this regard,” reads the statement.

They stressed the importance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, including its time frames, and called on relevant parties to avoid actions that could escalate tensions, aiming to create a favorable atmosphere and conditions for diplomatic efforts.

China proposed five points on the proper settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue, according to the Xinhua news agency.

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China stays committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through political and diplomatic means, and opposes the use of force and illegal sanctions, Xinhua quoted Wang as saying.

China stays committed to balancing rights and responsibilities, and takes a holistic approach to the goals of nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy, he said.

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China stays committed to the framework of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) as the basis for new consensus and also to promoting cooperation through dialogue, and opposes pressing for intervention by the United Nations Security Council, he said.

The top Chinese diplomat said China stays committed to a step-by-step and reciprocal approach, and seeks consensus through consultation.