BEIJING, Jan. 26 (UPI) -- China said Thursday it supports Moscow's offer to allow Iran to enrich uranium in Russia and opposes "arbitrary" sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan told a press briefing that the proposal "could be helpful to break the current stalemate."
Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani was in Beijing Thursday for talks with Chinese officials ahead of an emergency session of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Feb. 2 and 3, Xinhua reported. The session was called after Iran resumed research on uranium enrichment.
The United States and European nations may refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions if the IAEA suspects Iran is developing nuclear weapons.
China, as one of five permanent members of the Council with veto power, could block sanctions.
Larijani met with Russian Security Council chief Igor Ivanov in Moscow earlier this week and responded positively to the Russian proposal to allow Tehran to enrich its uranium in Russia.
