November 16, 2007 (LPAC)--Moving quickly countering the attempts by the United States, Britain and France to reach a consensus on further sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, China has pulled out of London talks.

What has been interpreted by the pro-sanction nations as an indication that China will not risk its economic interests in Iran by supporting extra UN sanctions, it was confirmed that it had called off its attendance at a meeting of officials from the "P5+1" group, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, which was scheduled for Nov. 19. A British Foreign Office official told Times Online today that, unless a "miracle" happened over the weekend, the meeting was now unlikely to take place. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi arrived in Tehran on Nov. 13 ostensibly carrying a message that China supports Iran's right to nuclear energy and expects Iran to work with the IAEA. "China also hopes all parties show flexibility and make its due efforts to the peaceful resolution of the issue," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said.

The United States recently imposed its own unilateral economic sanctions and has not ruled out military action against Iran. Britain has been pushing hard for a third round of UN sanctions, including restrictions on energy and financial investment in Iran. A group of British MPs led by the Conservative Party MP and a proponent of the Iraq war, Mike Gapes, is in Tehran holding talks with the Iranian officials.

The Nov. 19 meeting was planned to discuss a third round of UN sanctions against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after it was confirmed by the IAEA that he had reached a landmark 3,000 operational centrifuges.