Moscow, China Won't Back Force Vs. Iran

Moscow, China Won't Back Force Vs. Iran

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlates...824934,00.html

Tuesday May 16, 2006 10:46 AM

BEIJING (AP) - Russia and China will not vote for the use of force in resolving the Iranian nuclear dispute, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Tuesday after meeting with Chinese officials.

"China and Russia agree that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved through dialogue,'' Lavrov told reporters. "Russia and China will not vote for the use of force in resolving this issue.''

Western governments have been pressing Iran to give up nuclear development, which they fear is aimed at producing weapons.

The United States earlier sought a U.N. Security Council resolution to declare the program a threat to world peace and subject Iran to sanctions or even military action if it isn't halted. Beijing and Moscow hold veto power in the council.

In the latest diplomatic initiative, the European Union offered Iran economic incentives to stop enriching uranium. But the Iranian president rejected that on Sunday.