“China is opposed to any attempt to change the contents of the JCPOA and the Security Council Resolution 2231, and the US has no right after withdrawal from the JCPOA [Iran nuclear deal] to resort to the mechanisms planned in this regard,” Wang Yi made the remarks in a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif via a videoconference on Wednesday, according to Tasnim News Agency.

Under Iran’s 2015 deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a UN arms embargo is due to expire in October. The United States, which exited the deal in 2018, says it wants to extend the embargo.

If the UN Security Council does not extend the embargo, Washington has threatened to trigger a so-called snapback of all UN sanctions on Iran, using a process outlined in the nuclear deal.

The remaining signatories to the nuclear deal – Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany – have expressed their opposition to US plans.

Britain, France, and Germany said on Friday they would not back US efforts to unilaterally trigger the reimposition of United Nations sanctions on Iran, Reuters reported.

US bully-style unilateralism

In the videoconference, the Iranian and Chinese foreign ministers denounced the United States’ bully-style unilateralism and expressed decisive support for multilateralism and the principles of international law.

The top Iranian diplomat also condemned the US interference and certain Western states in the internal affairs of China, saying such an approach undermines international stability.

Trade ties

The two officials also discussed plans to facilitate trips by the businesspeople of the two countries amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Zarif stressed the importance of enhancement of the trade ties and proposed making special arrangements to facilitate visits by the businesspeople of the two countries.

Zarif further highlighted the strategic comprehensive relations between the two countries, expressing hope that the document on comprehensive cooperation would soon be signed by the two sides.

Welcoming the proposals for the expansion and facilitation of the bilateral trade ties, the Chinese foreign minister said, “These proposals, especially the reciprocal facilitation of visits by merchants, would be considered immediately.”

“China deeply regrets at the adoption, today, of IAEA Board Resolution on Iran’s safeguards implementation, with the caveat of such a move’s huge implications on the prospect of the #JCPOA. China & Russia voted against the above resolution,” Chinese Mission wrote on its Twitter account on Friday.

Earlier addressing the IAEA BoG meeting on Thursday, Chinese Ambassador in Vienna Wang Qun referred to recent tensions with regard to Iran nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), saying: “The root causes of this situation lie in the unilateral and bullying practices of the U.S., as evidenced by its unilateral withdrawal from JCPOA and its policy of maximum pressure towards Iran,” IRNA reported.

“In addition, the U.S. has not only ended the sanctions waiver covering all remaining JCPOA-originating nuclear projects, but also openly pushed for the extension of the conventional arms embargo against the country in the UN Security Council in an attempt to completely destroy JCPOA,” he added.

In spite of Russia and China serious opposition, the E3 anti-Iran resolution was approved in IAEA BoG meeting on Friday.

In their statement, the European troika under the support of the US urged Iran to stop preventing the IAEA inspectors from having access to two sites in th country.

Iran had earlier said that IAEA’s demand was based on the Zionist regime’s claims.

Meanwhile, in response to the adoption of the anti-Iran resolution at the IAEA’s Board of governors, Iran’s ambassador to the Vienna-based international organizations Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran completely rejects the resolution and will take “appropriate and necessary” action in response.