China hopes the newly-adopted UN Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear issue would serve the on-going diplomatic efforts to settle the standoff, Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Tuesday.

The UN Security Council on Monday adopted a resolution urging Iran to stop uranium enrichment activities by Aug. 31 or face possible economic and diplomatic sanctions.

"We hope the resolution would conduce to the on-going diplomatic efforts on Iran's nuclear issue," Liu said.

China calls on all parties concerned to keep calm and exercise restraint, and continue to push forward early resumption of negotiations, the spokesman said.

He reiterated that China will unswervingly play a constructive role to this end.

China always supports the international non-proliferation mechanism and opposes proliferation of nuclear weapons, Liu said, adding, "We hope that no new turbulence appears in the Middle East," Liu said.

China holds Iran's nuclear issue should be peacefully solved through political and diplomatic efforts, the spokesman said.

The resolution 1696 was adopted by a vote of 14 to 1. Qatar, the only Arab nation on the Security Council, cast the only negative vote. Qatar's UN envoy Nassir Al-Nasser said Qatar fears that proceeding with the resolution at this critical time serves neither the security in the region nor the unity of the Council.

U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday hailed the UN Security Council resolution on Iran and said it is important to send an unified message to Iran.

Explaining Iran's position on the nuclear issue, Iranian UN Ambassador Javad Zarif said Iran is not seeking confrontation and has showed its readiness to engage in serious and result-oriented negotiation based on mutual respect and equal footing.

"Iran's peaceful nuclear program poses no threat to international peace and security and therefore dealing with this issue in the Security Council is unwarranted and void of any legal basis or practical utility," he said.

The English-language Tehran Times, an official Iranian newspaper, on Tuesday lashed out at the UN Security Council resolution, saying in a front-page commentary that undoubtedly, Resolution 1696 is the most invalid and ridiculous resolution passed in the six decades of the United Nations.

After the resolution was adopted on Monday, Chinese Deputy Representative to the United Nations Liu Zhenmin reiterated China's persistent position that dialogue and negotiations are the only way to resolve Iran's nuclear issue.

He said the purpose for the Security Council to review the issue is to safeguard the international nuclear non-proliferation mechanism.

"Dialogue and negotiations are the only way out. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should always be the main mechanism for dealing with this issue. The solution requires all-round diplomatic efforts; any measures adopted by the Security Council should serve the purpose of diplomatic efforts," Liu Zhenmin said when addressing the Security Council after voting.

Liu said the resolution has expressed the intention, in the event that Iran fails to comply with this resolution, that the Security Council shall adopt appropriate measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter to persuade Iran to comply with this resolution and the requirements of the IAEA.

On the other hand, he stressed, in the event Iran fulfills its obligations and returns to the negotiation table, it will not be necessary for the Council to adopt additional measures.

During this sensitive period of time, Liu said it is essential for Iran and all the parties concerned not to take any steps that will harm diplomatic efforts and may lead to complication or even loss of control.

"We call upon all the parties to resume as soon as possible dialogue and negotiations for the proper solution of Iran's nuclear issue," he said.

He pledged China's continued efforts to maintain world and regional peace and stability, safeguard and strengthen international nonproliferation mechanism, and enhance political and diplomatic efforts for the solution of Iran's nuclear issue.

Source: Xinhua