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Wen Jiabao: no to sanctions against iranian oil, for Russia it would be a catastrophe
China’s premier defends Chinese imports of Iranian oil, but warns Tehran against closing Hormuz. Russian foreign minister warns that an attack would be a catastrophe.
Doha (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Premier Wen Jiabao said he is against a US-EU oil embargo on Iran to stop its nuclear programme. Tensions between the West and Iran could lead to an Iranian closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the main oil routes, in case of an attack against its nuclear facilities. Tehran claims that its nuclear programme is peaceful.
Speaking on Wednesday at the end of a six-day visit to the Middle East, Wen said that his government “adamantly opposes Iran developing and possessing nuclear weapons”. However, “China's oil trade with Iran is normal trade activity.” In his view, “Legitimate trade should be protected, otherwise the world economic order would fall into turmoil,” he added.
“I don't have this or that worry about China's oil supplies, and this time I didn't discuss this issue with the leaders of each country,” he explained.
Wen visited Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
The Obama administration last week invoked US law to sanction China's state-run Zhuhai Zhenrong Corporation, which it said was Iran's largest supplier of refined petroleum products.
Beijing is deeply concerned about Iran’s nuclear programme and economic sanctions. It is after all main buyer of Iranian oil followed by India and Japan. Only Saudi Arabia and Angola sell more to China.
“We believe that, no matter what the circumstances, the security of the Gulf of Hormuz and normal shipping passage through it must be guaranteed, because this is in the interests of the whole world,” Wen said. “Any extreme measures on this issue would violate the wishes of all countries in the world and their people.”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned that any Western military attack against Iran would be a “catastrophe”, that it would lead to "large flows" of refugees from Iran and would "fan the flames" of sectarian tension in the Middle East.
Iran's foreign minister said talks on its nuclear programme would "most probably" take place in Istanbul.