BEIJING, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- China's delegate at the International Atomic Energy Agency meeting in Vienna said resolution of Iran's nuclear ambitions should stay within the organization.
Statements carried in state-run media Friday quoted Wu Hailong saying, "China always maintains that the Iran nuclear issue should be resolved properly within the framework of the IAEA."
Wu said his country supports the efforts of EU countries France, Germany and the United Kingdom in their efforts to seek a long-term solution through dialogue and negotiations with Iran.
Wu made the comments at Thursday when the IAEA's governing board began a two-day meeting to discuss the developments of Iran's nuclear issue since the body in September called on Tehran to stop uranium enrichment.
"China welcomes all positive proposals, suggestions and efforts that are conducive to the resumption of the EU-Iran talks and find a long-term solution to the issue," Wu added.
"Iran's nuclear issue, if handled inappropriately, could get out of the framework of the IAEA and worse still, the situation could also get out of control," Wu warned.
On Friday IAEA endorsed an EU statement postponing referral of Tehran's nuclear issue to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions. The decision aims at giving Russia more time to persuade Iran to accept a compromise plan where its uranium enrichment activities are transferred to Russia.
Analysts note China does not want the Iranian nuclear issue to go to the U.N. Security Council because it would set a precedent for the world's other major nuclear proliferation problem: North Korea.
