Top Chinese, Russian diplomats discuss Iranian nuclear program

ISTANBUL

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Kuala Lumpur, and discussed a range of issues including the Iranian nuclear program.

In the wake of US and Israeli strikes on Iran last month, Wang said the use of force "cannot bring peace, pressure cannot solve problems, and dialogue and negotiation are the fundamental way out," according to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The two are in Kuala Lumpur to attend meetings with top diplomats of Southeast Asian nations, and is their first face-to-face to meeting since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, which has close ties to Beijing and Moscow.

China places "importance to Iran's commitment not to seek to develop nuclear weapons, and also respects Iran's right to peacefully use nuclear energy as a party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons," he stressed.

The two sides also reviewed bilateral ties, and exchanged views on pressing international and regional issues of shared concern, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran erupted last month, when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military, nuclear, and civilian sites, drawing retaliatory attacks.

The US also joined the war, bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.

The conflict ended with a US-sponsored ceasefire that took effect on June 24.

Both Russia and China have condemned the US and Israeli strikes against Iran's nuclear and military facilities.