China backs UN sanctions against Iran
3 December 2007
Beijing has shown support for UN sanctions against Iran in response to Tehran's nuclear program development, the Financial Times reported. With the backing of China, one of the UN Security Council's five permanent members, new resolutions on Iran could be settled in a matter of weeks. A senior Western diplomat described China's change in support of the sanctions as "the most significant thing that happened at the meeting." The resolutions being drafted would prohibit senior Iranian officials from traveling abroad freely and restrict Iranian banks from doing business internationally. China has traditionally opposed UN sanctions against Iran on the grounds that it is against interference in other countries' internal affairs.