China on Thursday called for continuous diplomatic efforts to tackle the Iranian nuclear issue, saying that there was still room for negotiation.

"Under the current situation, China believes that there is still room to tackle the Iranian nuclear issue through negotiation," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Thursday at a regular press briefing.

"Parties concerned should enhance diplomatic efforts to play constructive roles in seeking a proper solution to the Iranian nuclear issue," he said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman also urged Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and take further steps to deepen trust and create conditions for a proper settlement of the nuclear issue.

Qin also called for calmness, restraint and patience and urged relevant parties to continue negotiation and avoid taking actions that may exacerbate the situation.

The UN Security Council's five permanent members held closed consultations late Wednesday on the approach the powerful organ would take in handling the crisis over Iran's disputed nuclear program.

The meeting took place after the IAEA wrapped up its meeting in Vienna, where the agency's 35-nation board of governors discussed IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei's assessment report on Iran's nuclear program.

The IAEA's board of governors decided in a February 4 resolution to report Iran's controversial nuclear plan to the Security Council in early March. UN officials said council members had received ElBaradei's assessment report.

Source: Xinhua