Mr. President,

Since the beginning of this year, Iran's nuclear issue has attracted more and more international attention. The IAEA has conveyed to the Security Council a number of reports and resolutions related to Iran's nuclear issue.

China has all along indicated that the purpose for the Security Council to review this issue is to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, strengthen IAEA's authority and role, reinforce the endeavor of the IAEA Director General and his team to clarify the outstanding issues relating to Iran's nuclear program, promote the diplomatic efforts, and resolutely commit to finding an appropriate solution to this issue through political and diplomatic means.

For the same purpose, the Security Council issued a Presidential Statement on March 29 and has just now adopted a resolution. Regrettably, the Iranian side has yet to respond positively to the requests of the IAEA Board of Governors and calls of the Security Council. The resolution before us explicitly demands that Iran shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. It has expressed the intention, in the event that Iran fails to comply with this resolution, that the Security Council will work to adopt appropriate measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter to persuade Iran to comply with this resolution and the requirements of the IAEA. On the other hand, in the event that Iran fulfills the above obligations and returns to the negotiation table, it will not be necessary for the Security Council to adopt additional measures.

This resolution has stressed in many of its paragraphs the importance of finding a negotiated solution through political and diplomatic efforts. It has underlined the irreplaceable key role of the IAEA in handling this issue. It has endorsed the "package proposals" put forward by China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States in early June and emphasized that the proposals are important efforts for a comprehensive arrangement which would allow for the development of bilateral relations and cooperation based on mutual respect and the establishment of international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

Mr. President,

A belated appropriate solution to Iran's nuclear issue is due to lack of trust among main parties involved. It needs to be emphasized that whether it is now or in the future, the Security Council cannot handle this issue single-handedly. Dialogue and negotiations are the only way out. The IAEA should always be the main mechanism for dealing with this issue. The solution requires all-round diplomatic efforts; any measures adopted by the Security Council should serve the purpose of diplomatic efforts.

According to Article 25 of the UN Charter, all UN Member States are obliged to accept and carry out the Security Council resolutions. Under the current circumstances, China urges Iran to practice restraint, attach importance to the extensive call and expectations of the international community, earnestly implement the requirements of this resolution, and make early response to the "package proposals", so as to create conditions for increasing trust and promoting dialogue and negotiation.

We also wish to call upon all the other parties to adopt a highly responsible attitude towards world peace, security and stability and the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism, remain confident and calm, practice restraint, explore new way of thinking, and continue to creatively carry out diplomatic efforts for the settlement of Iran's nuclear issue. We welcome any ideas and efforts conducive to conducting talks, breaking the stalemate, and reaching compromises.

During this sensitive period of time, it is essential for Iran and all the parties concerned not to take any steps that will harm the above diplomatic efforts and may lead to complication or even loss of control. We call upon all the parties to resume as soon as possible dialogue and negotiations for the proper solution of Iran's nuclear issue.

China will, as always, continue its efforts to maintain world and regional peace and stability, safeguard and strengthen international non-proliferation mechanism, and enhance political and diplomatic efforts for the solution of Iran's nuclear issue.

Thank you, Mr. President.