China urges all sides to try harder to end Iran crisis

BEIJING, May 24 (Reuters) China said today it was confident a report by U.N. monitors saying Iran was making advances in uranium enrichment was ''objective and professional'' and urged all sides to strengthen efforts to end the standoff.

''We believe that the related resolutions of the agency and the UN Security Council should be implemented,'' Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference.

''At the same time, all parties must strengthen diplomatic efforts and demonstrate a constructive attitude so that negotiations can be revived as early as possible.'' The International Atomic Energy Agency said yesterday that Iran was making substantial advances in uranium enrichment in defiance of world demands, opening the way to harsher sanctions against Tehran over fears it is seeking atomic bombs.

Six world powers stand behind UN Security Council resolutions demanding Iran suspend all nuclear fuel work in exchange for negotiations on trade incentives, with the threat of escalating sanctions if Tehran keeps refusing.

The findings by the IAEA came on the day nine US warships sailed into the Gulf for manoeuvres to display American impatience with Tehran, which it also accuses of backing insurgents in Iraq.

REUTERS GP KP1313