China attentive to Iran sanctions plea: Israel

An Israeli official voiced optimism on Monday China would not veto any new UN Security Council sanctions to curb Iran's nuclear programme, saying Beijing listened attentively to a visiting Israeli delegation.                                            

China has given scant comment on its talks last week with the Israeli team led by deputy prime minister Moshe Yaalon, and central bank governor Stanley Fischer.                                           

Beijing has publicly stuck to its long-standing position that diplomacy and dialogue are the best approach to Iran, which rejects Western allegations that it is seeking atomic arms.     

"There was openness, a willingness to listen," the official told Reuters in the first public comment on the talks in Beijing, where the Israeli delegation argued a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a threat to Middle East security and oil prices.                             

"If I had to give my assessment, it's hard to believe that they (China) will cast a veto. We should be seeing the results in the coming weeks."                                           

The official said Israel hoped to see the Security Council impose "crippling" sanctions on Iran's oil exports and imports of refined petroleum. But he acknowledged recent US misgivings at such measures would mean softer sanctions for now.                    

"Our stance is of course the right stance, that in the end of the day we need crippling sanctions that will confront the Iranian regime with the choice of either having the bomb, or surviving," the official said.                                           

"But it's currently clear that for the United States what is more important is getting as many countries on board as possible."