Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing met in Beijing today with visiting Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. They both stressed to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue by diplomatic means.

 

"Li and Araghchi exchanged views on the development of the nuclear issue, and stressed that it should be properly resolved through diplomatic negotiations," according to a statement by the Foreign Ministry.

 

Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai held talks with Araghchi yesterday.

 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said yesterday that his country will continue to pursue its peaceful nuclear program even though the UN Security Council has demanded a suspension of its uranium enrichment.

 

"Using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is Iran's right. The Iranian nation has chosen this path…. No one can stop it," he told a press conference in Tehran.

 

The Security Council adopted a resolution in late July, urging Tehran to suspend by August 31 all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, or face prospect of sanctions.

 

Iran has rejected the resolution as having no legal basis.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2006)