China blasts EU sanctions on Iran

BEIJING: China said Thursday that EU sanctions on Iran announced this week in response to Tehran's suspected nuclear drive were "not constructive", echoing Russia's reaction to the measures.

The European Union agreed on an embargo on Iranian oil on Monday as well as financial sanctions - adding to new US measures targeting the Islamic Republic - as the West ramps up pressure on Tehran to return to the negotiating table.

"To blindly pressure and impose sanctions on Iran are not constructive approaches," China's foreign ministry was quoted as saying by the state news agency Xinhua, in response to a question on the EU measures.

Western powers believe Iran is inching closer and closer to building a nuclear bomb and want it to return to talks on the issue, but Tehran vehemently denies this, saying its atomic programme is not for military purposes.

China - a key ally of Iran and its top trading partner - has consistently opposed the use of sanctions, and advocates resolving disputes through "dialogue and consultation" instead. (AFP)