Russia and China return Iran as Trump demands nuclear negotiations with Tehran

Senior Chinese and Russian diplomats stated that all sanctions should be withdrawn and that conversation should only resume on the basis of “mutual respect” after the United States sought nuclear negotiations with Tehran on Friday.

China and Russia also praised Iran’s reaffirmation that its nuclear program was solely for peaceful purposes and that Tehran’s right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be “fully” recognized, according to a joint statement released following negotiations with Iran in Beijing.