SCO: Use of force to solve Iran problem unacceptable

Leaders of a regional grouping led by Russia and China issued a statement in Beijing Thursday opposing any use of force in Iran, saying it could threaten global security. "Any attempts to solve the Iranian problem with force are unacceptable and could lead to unpredictable circumstances that threaten stability and security in the region and the entire world," said the statement signed at the end of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit that was attended by Iran's leader. The statement expressed "serious concern about the situation around Iran", which is an observer nation to the security organisation that groups together China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The West believes Iran is trying to develop an atomic bomb under cover of a civilian programme, but Tehran insists its intentions are purely peaceful and the situation has brought about a shaky standoff. On Wednesday, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Beijing is against any Middle Eastern country seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported. "China opposes any Middle East country's push to acquire nuclear weapons and upholds that the Iranian nuclear issue should be addressed through diplomatic channels in an impartial way," Wen said.