UNITED NATIONS - China firmly opposes the forcible push for a snapback of sanctions against Iran, said a Chinese envoy on Friday.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, made the remarks after the Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would continue to provide sanctions relief for Iran under the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

He said China supports keeping the Security Council sanctions against Iran terminated and voted in favor of the draft resolution.

China firmly opposes the forcible push by relevant countries for a "snapback mechanism" and sees such a move as gravely undermining diplomatic efforts for a political resolution of the Iran nuclear issue, he said.

The current difficult situation concerning the Iran nuclear issue stems from the U.S. withdrawal from the deal in 2018, he said, noting that the United States reinstalled and continuously escalated its sanctions against Iran, depriving Iran of access to the economic dividends provided for under the deal, and leaving Iran with no choice but to scale back its commitments to the agreement.

"The United States, at the expense of its own credibility, went even further by blatantly launching military strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities, thereby torpedoing the very negotiation process that the United States itself initiated," said Fu.

Under these circumstances, Britain, France and Germany are insisting on activating the "snapback mechanism" to unilaterally punish Iran. This is unfair and unreasonable, he said.

"Such a move causes tension and division among Security Council members, is not conducive to rebuilding mutual trust and bridging differences among the parties, detrimental to the diplomatic efforts toward the early resumption of talks, and may even bring about catastrophic consequences that are impossible to foresee and forfeit years of diplomatic efforts in one stroke," he said. "China has grave concern over this."

China always maintains that a political and diplomatic solution represents the only viable option to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue and the right path to lasting peace. This is also the prevailing view within the international community. China calls on the parties to stay calm and exercise restraint, resolve issues through diplomacy and dialogue, and avoid falling back into the vicious cycle of sanctions, pressure and escalating tensions, he said.

The Security Council should play a constructive role in assisting the parties concerned to build trust, bridge differences, and advance the political process to negotiate a new agreement. China and Russia have tabled a draft resolution for the technical extension of the JCPOA and Resolution 2231 that endorsed it. The purpose is to buy time for diplomacy and create conditions for a political solution, said Fu, calling on the parties to give it serious consideration.

As a JCPOA participant and a permanent member of the Security Council, China remains committed to a political settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue and to security and stability in the Middle East. China will continue to hold an objective position, work hard to promote peace talks, and play a constructive role in advancing the political process, he said.