China to host talks with Russia and Iran on Iran's nuclear program

China is set to hold discussions in Beijing on Friday with Russia and Iran regarding Iran’s nuclear program, according to its foreign ministry, as per reports.

Both nations will be represented by their deputy foreign ministers. China’s Vice Foreign Minister, Ma Zhaoxu, will reportedly preside over the meeting, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated during a routine press briefing on Wednesday, reported a news agency.

This discussion follows a closed-door session of the United Nations Security Council in New York on the same day, where officials deliberated on Iran’s increasing stockpile of uranium nearing weapons-grade levels.

Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi stressed Monday that his country will not consider holding nuclear negotiations under pressure and intimidation. 

He made the remarks in a post on the social media platform X while reacting to US President Donald Trump's calls for negotiating a nuclear deal with Tehran.

Araghchi said, "We will not negotiate under pressure and intimidation," particularly referring to Washington's military threats and sanctions against Iran. "We will not even consider it (negotiation), no matter what the subject may be. Negotiation is different from bullying and issuing diktats."

The minister reiterated that "Iran's nuclear energy program has always been and will always remain entirely peaceful," denying any accusation of its "potential militarization."

Araghchi added that Iran was holding separate consultations with international stakeholders "on an equal footing and with mutual respect," aiming to explore ways to build more confidence and more transparency on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of "unlawful" sanctions.

In an interview with a US media house on Friday, Trump said he wants to negotiate the nuclear issue with Iran and had sent a letter to the country's leadership, a news agency reported.

Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said the country had not received such a letter yet.

(with inputs from syndicated feed)