France says China will join talks on Iran

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner announced that China will participate in a first round of talks Thursday in New York on possible new sanctions against Iran, the start of what are likely to be tough negotiations.

China agreed to discuss possible new sanctions during a phone conversation in late March with senior diplomats from the five other countries trying to get Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations on its nuclear program, but no date had been set for the start of the discussions.

France's Foreign Ministry said Kouchner told a French parliamentary hearing that China would join the United States, Britain, Russia, France _ all veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council _ and Germany for the talks.

Kouchner said the Chinese participation is a "positive factor," according to the ministry. He did not give any details.

China's Foreign Ministry had no immediate comment.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley would not confirm Thursday's meeting, saying there will be discussions in coming days in several locations and "I'm not going to sit here and advertise every single meeting that takes place."

China, which relies on Iran for much of its energy, traditionally opposes sanctions, but it went along with the first three sanctions resolutions. Beijing has said it opposes nuclear weapons for Iran but supports an Iranian civilian nuclear energy program.

It has been skeptical of the need for a fourth round of sanctions, which Western powers are seeking to step up pressure Iran to suspend its nuclear enrichment program.

The International Atomic Energy Agency reported recently that Tehran may be making nuclear bombs. But Iran insists its nuclear program is aimed solely at producing nuclear energy and is purely peaceful.

According to well-informed U.N. diplomats, the proposed new sanctions circulated by the United States would target Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard and toughen existing measures against its shipping, banking and insurance sectors. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are taking place among capitals.

Both China and Russia have repeatedly said they believe there is still room for negotiations with Iran.

After reports that China had agreed to discuss a new round of sanctions, Iran's nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili flew to Beijing and met with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi last Thursday.

"The relationship between Iran and China is very important, and it is very important for our two countries to cooperate on all the issues," Jalili told reporters just after arriving in Beijing.

Yang told Jalili before their meeting that his visit was "very important" and "we attach great importance to China's relations with Iran."

China depends on oil- and gas-rich Iran for 11 percent of its energy needs and last year became Tehran's biggest trading partner, according to Iranian figures. But China has other choices for oil supplies.

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Associated Press Writer Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations.