China tells U.S. its Iran ties private

AP: China warned the United States on Thursday not to meddle in its trade relations with Iran after Washington expressed concern about a planned investment by a Chinese oil company in an Iranian gas field. Associated Press

BEIJING (AP) – China warned the United States on Thursday not to meddle in its trade relations with Iran after Washington expressed concern about a planned investment by a Chinese oil company in an Iranian gas field.

“We think this kind of cooperation and relationship is legitimate. Normal cooperation should not be interfered,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao.

Asked whether that meant Beijing believed the U.S. was interfering in its dealings with Iran, Liu said that “this is our position.”

The U.S. government expressed concern last month to Beijing about a planned investment by state-owned Chinese oil company CNOOC Ltd. in Iran’s Northern Pars gas field. Washington said major business dealings with Tehran were inappropriate at a time when Iran was defying U.N. resolutions over its nuclear program.

The United States and its European allies suspect Iran’s civilian nuclear program is a cover for developing such a bomb.

IAEA inspectors regularly visit Iran, but the Islamic republic’s lack of transparency has increased suspicions it is conducting a secret weapons program.

Iran has said it’s nuclear program is for producing energies.