China criticizes new EU sanctions against Iran

TEHRAN,Oct.17(MNA) – China criticized the European Union on Tuesday for its decision to impose new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and again called for talks to resolve the standoff, Reuters reported. The new EU governments’ sanctions, which were adopted on Monday, target major Iranian state companies in the oil and gas industry and strengthen restrictions on the Central Bank of Iran. China is Iran’s largest crude oil customer and, along with Russia, has resisted imposing sanctions on Tehran. “We oppose the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Iran and believe that using sanctions to exert pressure cannot fundamentally resolve the Iran nuclear issue,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing. “It can only make the situation more complex and intensify confrontation… We hope that all relevant parties can show flexibility, increase communication, and push for a new round of talks as soon as possible,” he stated.