Can China help to defuse the nuclear threat from Iran?

As a veto-holding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China's position will be crucial to international efforts to deal with Iran's secret nuclear facility.

"Iran is an important country for China: we have diplomatic interests, but also energy and trade links," he said. "[And] if China is too harsh, it will not be favourable to its image and influence in the Middle East."

China is the world's second-largest consumer of crude oil while Iran has the world's second largest reserves; Iranian oil made up more than a tenth of China's crude imports last year. Earlier this year, the two countries announced a $3.2bn three-year natural gas deal, and in the spring Iran's Press TV reported that trade volume between the countries leapt from $400m in 1994 to $29bn in 2008.

Can China help to defuse the nuclear threat from Iran? | World news | The Observer

In pictures: Dust storms around the world | Environment | guardian.co.uk

 

In pictures: Dust storms around the world | Environment | guardian.co.uk

Iran and United States on collision course over nuclear plant | World news | The Observer

The US and Iran raised the stakes yesterday ahead of this week's nuclear showdown in Geneva, with threats of global strife if no resolution is found.

The sharpened rhetoric followed Friday's revelation that Iran had been building a secret uranium enrichment plant under a mountain near Qom, and it points towards a new wave of sanctions that go far beyond the targeted financial measures imposed on Iran so far.

Speaking at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, Barack Obama declared: "Iran is on notice that when we meet with them on 1 October they are going to have to come clean, and they will have to make a choice." The alternative to sticking to international rules on Iran's nuclear development, he said, would be "a path that is going to lead to confrontation".

Iran and United States on collision course over nuclear plant | World news | The Observer

Iran defiant over secret nuclear facility

BBC Iran conceal nuclear facility

BBC Q&A Iran and the nuclear issue

Pictures: Iran Nuclear Issues

10:10 | What is 10:10?

10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions in 2010.

Why bother jumping out of the way of a speeding car? Why bother removing a burst appendix?

Cutting 10% in one year is a bold target, but for most of us it’s an achievable one, and is in line with what scientists say we need over the next 18 months. We now know for certain that unless we act quickly to reduce our use of dirty fossil fuels, humanity will face terrible problems in the years to come. Politicians have so far failed to do what needs to be done, so it’s time for ordinary people to step in and show that we’re ready to defend our children’s futures. It’s now or never for the climate.

10:10 | What is 10:10?