China's Xi, Macron Urge 'Political Settlement' in Iran Nuclear Issue

Iran International Newsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping speak as they attend an official state dinner as part of the Chinese president's two-day state visit to France, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 6, 2024.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping speak as they attend an official state dinner as part of the Chinese president's two-day state visit to France, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 6, 2024.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, have reiterated their commitment to a political resolution of the ongoing Iranian nuclear issue as Iran continues to exceed enrichment limits.

President Xi traveled to France as part of his first European tour in five years. The latest declaration follows a previous joint statement made in April last year, where both countries underscored their dedication to diplomatic solutions regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, as stated on the official Elysee Palace website.

The statement last year stressed the importance of adhering to United Nations Security Council resolutions without compromising their authority or effectiveness.

Despite assurances from Iranian officials that Tehran’s nuclear program is intended solely for peaceful purposes, nuclear experts largely agree that the levels and quantities of uranium enrichment conducted by Iran since 2021 suggest otherwise.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60% purity, nearing the 90% threshold typically necessary for producing nuclear weapons. Last month, the IAEA's chief said Iran is 'weeks not months' away from nuclear weapons with Iran's nuclear stockpile now significantly exceeding the limits set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA is in Tehran this week in a bid to repair strained relations and bolster cooperation between the agency and Iran after a year in which Iran has blocked vast numbers of the agency's inspectors and continued to breach regulations.