EU pushes China on Iran talks

Beijing: The European Union yesterday urged China to open its markets, act more aggressively on forcing Iran to negotiate over its nuclear programme and back the UN Security Council on Syria.

The comments from EU President Herman Van Rompuy came after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said China and the European Union need to work together to solve Europe's growing debt crisis.

Rompuy told a news conference after he and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso held talks with Wen that they discussed ways to open China's markets and address trade gaps.

The EU has also been pushing for China's support to force Iran to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme. China and other countries have been under pressure from the United States and Europe to cut off imports of oil from Iran. The West suspects Iran's nuclear programme is aimed at producing atomic weapons. Tehran denies this charge, insisting it's geared for peaceful purposes only.

"I shared with Premier Wen our deep concern on the Iranian nuclear programme and I explained to him that our actions and sanctions are aimed to bring Tehran back to the negotiating table," Van Rompuy said.

Pre-emptive move

Meanwhile in Tehran, a top conservative lawmaker said yesterday that there is a consensus in Iran's parliament over a pre-emptive move to ban oil exports to the European Union, as the Islamic Republic seek to retaliate against stifling sanctions.

The statements come amid mounting international tensions after Israel accused Iran and its proxy group in Lebanon, Hezbollah, for a bomb attack on an Israeli diplomat in India Monday — a claim Tehran denies.

In remarks to Iran's parliament news website Icana, Omidvar Rezai, a former revolutionary guard and one-time presidential candidate, said the proposal is still being reviewed by the parliament's committees, but that there is consensus regarding its approval.

The EU last month agreed to a full embargo on purchases of Iranian oil from July 1 over the country's nuclear programme. Iran maintains the programme is peaceful.