Xi says China is keen to help get Iran nuclear talks back on track

China was willing to help get Iranian nuclear talks back on track, President Xi Jinping said yesterday in a meeting with his new Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani on the sidelines of Shanghai Co-operation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyr gyzstan.

Iran's legitimate rights should be respected, Xi said, adding that the issue must be resolved through dialogue.

"The nuclear issue is a vital one concerning Iran's interests and regional peace and stability," Xinhua quoted Xi as saying, calling relevant parties to seek a solution acceptable to all sides.

Rouhani said Iran was willing to accept monitoring and supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran is at odds in particular with Western powers, which fear that its nuclear programme is covertly directed at giving it the means to build nuclear bombs. Tehran denies this and rejects any limits on its enrichment of uranium or a more intrusive IAEA inspection regime, as several UN resolutions have called for.

The IAEA has held 10 rounds of talks with Iran since last year to resume a blocked inquiry into suspected atom bomb research.