China: Sanctions Policy Will Not Help Resolve Issues

Beijing – Agencies: China has joined the escalating rhetoric surrounding U.S. threats to impose sanctions on Iran, affirming that a policy of sanctions and pressure will not help resolve the issues, amid growing tensions over American measures against Tehran. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said yesterday, in response to U.S. threats related to Iran, that “sanctions and pressure tactics do not help resolve issues,” according to Reuters. Beijing also called on all concerned parties to act with rationality and restraint, a stance reflecting its concerns about the widening scope of escalation and its repercussions on the region. The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not stop at calling for de-escalation; it affirmed that it would closely monitor related developments and take what it described as necessary measures to protect “China’s rights and legitimate interests.”