Iran N negotiator visits China amid sanctions pressure

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Bangladesh Railway (BR) Additional Director General (Rolling Stocks) Khalilur Rahman and India's M/s RITES Ltd Executive Director (Expotech) VK Jain exchange documents after signing the deal in the city's Railway Bhaban Tuesday. BR Minister Suranjit Sengu

TEHRAN, Mar 31 (AFP): Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili was heading to China to discuss Tehran's atomic programme, a report said Wednesday, as world pressure grew for fresh sanctions against the Islamic republic.
Iran's official news agency IRNA reported that Jalili, the chief nuclear negotiator, will Thursday hold talks on Iran's nuclear issue' with high-ranking officials in Beijing, which has steadfastly resisted further sanctions against Tehran.
Jalili's mission to Beijing comes after a call on Tuesday by the Group of Eight foreign ministers for stepped up pressure against Iran over its controversial nuclear programme, which world powers believe is masking an atomic weapons drive.
US President Barack Obama, who in March 2009 offered to open diplomatic dialogue with Iran, added to the pressure by saying Tuesday he hoped new sanctions would be imposed against Tehran within 'weeks'.
Jalili, who led the Iranian team during talks in Geneva last October with world powers, is expected in China to try to ensure the continued support of Beijing, which of the five UN veto-wielding powers has voiced the strongest opposition to further sanctions.
While the United States, Britain, and France are pushing for a fourth round of UN sanctions against Iran, China, which is now Iran's main economic partner, maintains that a diplomatic solution to the crisis is still possible.
Russia, another long-standing ally of Tehran, meanwhile has indicated it could back new harsh measures against the Islamic republic if required.
The pressure to impose sanctions has grown in recent weeks with US officials touring the region to secure backing for the measure aimed at halting Iran's galloping nuclear drive.
Meanwhile, Reuters from Washington adds: United States (US) President Barack Obama said Tuesday he wanted tougher UN sanctions in weeks against Iran over its nuclear program, and the world's leading industrial nations expressed optimism that China will agree on possible next steps.
Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy presented a united front on Iran at a joint White House news conference, saying they felt it was time to move ahead with tougher sanctions that their governments have been negotiating with China, Russia, Germany and Britain.