China, Russia united on Iran

After more than two weeks of discussions, the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council - China, Russia, the United States, Britain and France - have been unable to agree on a draft statement that tells Iran to stop enriching uranium.

"China and Russia have common views on how to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue," China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news conference.

"Our objectives are to solve the issue in a peaceful way through negotiations," he said, as Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Beijing.

Iran insists it has the right to atomic research - which it says is for peaceful purposes - but the Western powers believe it is seeking the ability to make nuclear weapons.

Qin said China supported a Russian compromise proposal that would allow Iran to use nuclear fuel enriched in an internationally monitored plant on Russian soil, easing fears that Tehran could divert atomic material to develop weapons.

"Under current circumstances, Russia's proposal is a helpful way to break the impasse," Qin said. "We call on all parties concerned to step up their negotiations and demonstrate flexibility."

Both Russia and China are wary of action by the Security Council, which can impose sanctions, fearing threats might escalate and prompt Iran to cut off contact with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

Envoys close to the talks on the draft statement said Russia, backed by China, was toughest on its provisions, objecting to its setting a two-week deadline for the IAEA to report whether Tehran has complied, saying the time limit is too short.

But underscoring the urgency to reach a resolution, U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated that Washington was ready to use military force against Iran if necessary.

"The threat from Iran is, of course, their stated objective to destroy our strong ally Israel," he said in a speech to the City Club of Cleveland.

"That's a threat, a serious threat. It's a threat to world peace... I made it clear, I'll make it clear again, that we will use military might to protect our ally, Israel."

Bush also stressed the desire for a united message on Iran from the Security Council "in order to say loud and clear to the Iranians this is unacceptable behavior".

Under a November 2004 agreement with Britain, France and Germany, negotiators for the European Union, Iran agreed to freeze uranium enrichment activities in return for economic and political rewards.

That deal broke down last year, and Iran resumed uranium conversion in August.