On July 6, 2018 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave a group interview to the Chinese media after attending the Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the Iranian Nuclear Issue in Vienna.

Wang Yi expressed that this important and timely Foreign Ministers' Meeting was held at a time when the development of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian Nuclear Issue was at a crossroad. All parties attending the meeting made a responsible decision and adopted an important Joint Statement. And the core content of this statement is to continue to abide by the JCPOA, oppose unilateral sanctions violating the international law and effectively maintain the international nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Wang Yi said that China adheres to the following five-point proposal on Iranian nuclear issue:

First, international rules should be followed. It is a basic common sense of international law to comply with international agreements. The major countries, in particular, should play a leading role in this regard, and show their due integrity and responsibility. Changes of domestic political landscape in countries concerned should not be and cannot be an excuse for international responsibility evasion.

Second, the JCPOA should be implemented. The JCPOA is an international agreement approved by the United Nations (UN) Security Council, thus requiring all parties to faithfully implement it. The practice over the past three years has proven that the JCPOA not only diffused the Iranian nuclear crisis, but also played a positive role in maintaining the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. We have no reason not to support and implement such agreement.

Third, stability of the Middle East should be maintained. The current Middle East situation is at a critical stage. Failure to persist the JCPOA would exert negative impact beyond measures on the future of the Middle East. All parties involved should not underestimate this impact but make right and reasonable judgments with an attitude of being responsible for history.

Fourth, unilateral sanctions should be abandoned. China always objects all forms of unilateral sanctions, which is a matter of principle, and the same is true with the Iranian nuclear issue. Various international practices have repeatedly proven that blindly relying on sanctions to exert pressure will only be counterproductive. The legitimate rights and interests of the international community, including China, must be respected and maintained practically.

Fifth, dialogue and negotiation should be upheld. Whatever the problems are, all disputes need to be settled through dialogue and negotiation because confrontations and conflicts will only lead to a dead end. Since the JCPOA is not a panacea that is able to cure all diseases, we cannot rely on it to solve all problems. On the condition of the continuous implementation of the JCPOA, we are glad to see and support all parties to establish transparent and inclusive dialogue platforms with the combination of bilateral and multilateral dialogue, and discuss the settlement of the issues that all parties concern with a constructive attitude, so as to jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

Wang Yi said that China firmly remains committed to maintaining and implementing the JCPOA and one-hundred percent fulfills the regulations and obligations of the JCPOA. China will make all efforts to accomplish the things that will be conducive to maintaining and implementing the JCPOA. China is also willing to maintain communication and coordination with all parties to this end, and endeavors to safeguard the achievements of multilateralism. Meanwhile, China will also firmly protect its own legitimate rights and interests.