Chinese FM says to support all endeavors conducive to safeguarding Iran deal

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24  - Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here Monday that China supports all endeavors which are conducive to safeguarding the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known commonly as the Iran nuclear deal or Iran deal.

Wang made the remarks after meeting with counterparts from Russia, France, Britain, Germany, the European Union (EU) and Iran on JCPOA.

"The positions of all parties are highly consistent, and new consensus has been formed," Wang said, noting that all parties have reaffirmed to continue to safeguard and implement the Iran deal.

All parties have deeply regretted the U.S. withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, while recognizing that Iran has fulfilled its nuclear commitments under the deal, said Wang.

All parties are committed to properly address the difficulties in maintaining normal economic and trade cooperation with Iran, Wang added.

The Iran deal is an agreement on the nuclear program of Iran reached in Vienna on July 14, 2015 between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- China, France, Russia, Britain and the United States -- plus Germany).

On May 8, 2018, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the agreement. Following the US withdrawal, the EU enacted an updated blocking statute on Aug. 7, 2018 to nullify U.S. sanctions on countries trading with Iran.