Iran says hopes China won't bow to sanctions pressure

Iran said on Tuesday it hoped China would not give in to pressure to agree to new sanctions that the United States and its allies hope to win U.N. approval for over its nuclear program.

"China is a great country which enjoys enough power to pursue its own decisions independently without being pressured by America," foreign minister spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said at a news conference in Tehran.
"Of course our expectations from such a big country is the same ... to pursue its foreign policies independently and just observe its own national interests," he said, citing Iran's close relations with China.
China's Foreign Minister said on Sunday new sanctions on Iran would not solve the stand-off over its nuclear program, which Western powers fear will allow Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran says it is only interested in electricity.
Washington and other Western powers want China to approve a proposed U.N. resolution imposing new sanctions on Iran, a big source of oil for China.
Beijing has previously resisted calls for harsh sanctions and Yang emphasized his government's reluctance, while stopping short of opposing outright any new U.N. resolution.
A draft Western document proposes restricting more Iranian banks abroad, but does not call for sanctions against Iran's oil and gas industries.
China is one of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, each holding the power to veto resolutions.