China urges Iran to respond to UN resolution

BEIJING, Jan 5 (Reuters) Chinese President Hu Jintao urged Iran today to ''respond seriously'' to a UN Security Council resolution which imposes sanctions on Tehran's trade in sensitive nuclear materials and technology.

China is a veto-wielding member of the Security Council, which voted unanimously in December to slap sanctions on Iran to try to stop uranium enrichment work that Western powers fear could lead to making bombs.

But Beijing also depends on Tehran for about 12 percent of its crude oil imports and has urged the resumption of talks to defuse the standoff over Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran says is for peaceful purposes.

''The unanimous passing of resolution 1737 at the UN reflects the widespread concern in the international community. We hope the Iranian side can make a serious response to it,'' state television quoted Hu as telling visiting Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani.

''The international community should continue to make diplomatic efforts for the sake of a long-term, comprehensive and appropriate settlement.'' Larijani said the relationship between China and Iran was unaffected by Beijing's support for the resolution.

''We will not change strategic relationships because of tactical issues. Our relationship (with China) is long-term and long-lasting,'' Larijani told a news conference at Iran's Beijing embassy.

He said Tehran blamed only Washington for the sanctions, despite the fact the resolution won unanimous support at the Security Council, which also includes the United States, Russia, France, Britain and 10 non-permanent members.

''Of course we know who is really responsible and who is behind the sanctions, and nobody else can be blamed for this,'' he said.

Despite China's support for the resolution, Beijing repeated that it still sees talks as key to resolving the issue.

''Under the current circumstances, it has become more necessary and more pressing to resume the negotiations,'' the official Xinhua news agency quoted Chinese State Councillor Tang Jiaxuan as telling Larijani.

Iran would not be cowed by the move, Larijani said.

''The US has been carrying out these kind of policies for the past 27 years and it has not been very effective,'' he said.

US President George W Bush said yesterday Washington did not see ''a peaceful future with the Iranians developing nuclear weapons'', but Larijani reiterated that his country was only seeking nuclear energy, not bombs.

''It is not part of our strategic, diplomatic doctrine to go after nuclear weapons,'' he said.

He said the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty was a ''good framework'' that Iran remained commited to.

''We are willing within this framework to peacefully develop nuclear energy,'' he said. ''But if we are threatened, the situation could change.'' REUTERS AKJ KN1813