China wants talks to resolve Iran issue

At his meeting with visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Li said: "China maintains its long-standing position to seek a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the Iranian nuclear issue."

On its part, the international community should continue its diplomatic efforts for an early resumption of the talks, he said.

Officials of the five permanent UN Security Council members the United States, France, Russia, China and Britain and Germany, who met in London early this week, said they were committed to resolving the issue through negotiations.

The UN imposed limited sanctions on Iran's nuclear program in December. And the country faces severe curbs if it ignores the February 21 deadline to stop its uranium enrichment, which the West says is aimed at making atomic bombs.

But Iran insists it is doing so only to make fuel for nuclear power plants.

Araghchi told reporters at the Iranian Embassy in Beijing that Iran was ready for a fair and reasonable resolution to the issue through talks. Negotiation is the only way to end the standoff.

"Nothing can be solved through military means There is almost no possibility that the US is going to attack Iran," Araghchi said.

"But given the fact that the US has a history of repeating its mistakes, we have to be well prepared for a military attack," he said. But it would be a huge mistake if the US closes the door on negotiations and launches an attack.

France is trying to find a common ground among the five Security Council permanent members, visiting French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a new conference yesterday.

France is trying to play a balancing point between the US and the UK that want more sanctions against Iran, and China and Russia that seek a more moderate route to end the stand-off, he said.

"A united international community is crucial if Iran is to make a strategic decision to either opt for isolation or suspend its sensitive nuclear activities and open itself to negotiations," he said.

"France is willing to have talks with Iran if it halts its sensitive nuclear activities," he said.