UK defends push for U.N. sanctions against Iran

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain said on Wednesday it would press for new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities despite a U.S. report saying Tehran had halted a weapons program, but China said it wanted a negotiated solution.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said after talks with his Chinese counterpart in London the origin of a proposed new U.N. sanctions resolution lay in the "defiance by Iran of the international community in respect of uranium enrichment".

"That defiance remains the case today," he told a joint news conference with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Enriched uranium can be used to create energy, but also atomic bombs.

Miliband had been asked whether a new U.S. intelligence report saying Tehran had given up its nuclear weapons program in 2003 made it harder for Britain and China to find common ground on a new U.N. sanctions resolution.

The U.S. report contradicted assertions by U.S. President George W. Bush that Iran was pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran says its program has only peaceful civilian aims.

Miliband noted Britain and China, both permanent U.N. Security Council members, backed a decision in September to agree on more sanctions against Iran if reports by the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana did not show a "positive outcome".

Yang stressed China wanted a diplomatic solution.

"We hope the Iranian nuclear issue will get eventually resolved appropriately through peaceful and diplomatic means," he said through an interpreter.

CHANGED SITUATION

China's U.N. ambassador said on Tuesday the U.S. report had changed the situation for Security Council consideration of new sanctions on Tehran. Russia and China have generally opposed stronger penalties against the Islamic Republic.

Speaking earlier at London's Chatham House thinktank, Yang said China backed nuclear non-proliferation efforts but believed Iran had a right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

He voiced hope that Iran and the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, would "step up their consultation for resolving outstanding issues" and that Iran would continue to talk to the European Union.

"We hope that all the parties will work together to seek and realize an eventual peaceful resolution of this issue through negotiations," Yang said.

Miliband said he and Yang also discussed Darfur, Myanmar and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's January visit to China.

Miliband said Britain did not support a referendum on U.N. membership by Taiwan planned by the island's independence-leaning president, Chen Shui-bian for next March.

"We think it's very important that all sides act with real restraint given the need for stability across the Taiwan Strait, and any reckless maneuvers are to be deplored," Miliband said.

Speaking earlier, Yang said China opposed sanctions on Myanmar, where the army crushed protests in September.

"We believe that exerting pressure in various areas or even imposing sanctions does not help with a solution to the situation there. These measures will only bring losses to the Myanmar people," he said.