China: Iran sanctions not constructive

BEIJING, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- The Chinese government, reacting to the European Union's embargo on Iranian oil, said such sanctions are not constructive.

"To blindly pressure and impose sanctions on Iran are not constructive approaches," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement to the official Xinhua news agency.

Iran is under international pressure because of its nuclear program, which it says is for peaceful purposes but Western countries say is designed to make nuclear weapons.

China, one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, has always insisted on dialogue and consultation to settle the issue.

Xinhua quoted the foreign ministry as saying the Chinese government hoped the relevant parties would take approaches conducive to regional peace and stability.

The EU action would ban new contracts for Iranian crude oil and the offering of financial services to Iran.