China hails Iran-IAEA agreement to resolve issues, criticizes ‘unilateral bullying‘

China welcomes recent arrival at an agreement by Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog to resolve some issues specified by the agency, berating coercive attempts that seek to prevent such dialog-powered cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian made the remarks on Thursday, a day after the Islamic Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced the agreement on future visits by the agency to two sites identified by the organization.

“China welcomes and applauds that the IAEA and Iran reached an agreement,” he said at a press briefing.

The agreement came by after a two-day visit by IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi to Iran, where he met with senior Iranian officials.

Grossi: IAEA won’t let third parties influence Iran ties

Visiting Tehran, the IAEA chief says the UN nuclear watchdog will not allow any third party to influence its relations with Iran.

Grossi’s visit took place over two months after the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution -- put forward by Britain, France and Germany -- to push for inspections of the two sites that the trio claimed might have been used for undeclared nuclear activities in the early 2000s.

It was the Israeli regime’s spy service that first came up with the allegations of such activity at the two sites. Iran had, however, strictly rejected the allegations and refused to let the Israeli claims form the basis of its cooperation with the IAEA, only choosing to make the locations available at its own will and upon the agency’s request.

Iran voluntarily grants IAEA access to two locations specified by UN agency

Iran has agreed to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to two sites specified by the UN nuclear agency.

“We hope the two sides will continue working toward the same direction and faithfully implement this agreement. We also call on all relevant sides to make constructive efforts in this regard.,” the Chinese official said.

“Facts have shown time and again that unilateral bullying only exacerbates confrontation, while differences can only be narrowed through equal-footed dialog,” the spokesman added.

He was apparently referring to Tel Aviv and the United States’ pressure on the agency to sabotage the Iranian nuclear program.

Rouhani underlines enhanced Iran-IAEA cooperation, recent agreement

Iran hails the recent agreement between Iran and the IAEA and stresses the need for further mutual cooperation.

In 2018, the US left the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a historic nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, a move that was welcomed and supported by the Israeli regime.

All the JCPOA’s remaining signatories, namely the European trio, Russia, China, and Germany, have ever since been rebuking Washington for the move that, by extension, violated UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231 that endorses the nuclear deal.

The Chinese official likewise said, “Under the current circumstances, all pertinent countries should keep to the right direction, staunchly uphold the authority and efficacy of the JCPOA and the UNSCR 2231, and work for the political and diplomatic settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue.”

The IAEA is tasked with verifying Iran's commitments under the JCPOA, the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and facilitating an Additional Protocol that Iran has agreed to voluntarily implement to prove its good faith.

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