Wang said China hopes all parties concerned would "seize the opportunity, engage themselves in closer contacts and dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect, increase mutual trust and reduce misperceptions, address each other's concerns and seek an approach that is acceptable to all for the resumption of negotiations."

Vote on the new resolution, originally scheduled for Saturday, was delayed till Monday to address reservations by Indonesia, Vietnam, South Africa and Libya so that a unanimity could be achieved.

In statements delivered Monday before the vote, representatives from Libya, South Africa and Vietnam reiterated their reservations but said they would vote for the resolution.

Indonesian Ambassador Marty M. Natalegawa, for his part, said his country decided to abstain because it believes Iran is cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and that "at this juncture, more sanctions are not the best course".

"We are not convinced whether more sanctions, however incremental, well targeted and reversible, would move us forward in resolving the question of Iran's nuclear program, or whether it will only give potential negative impact at a time when progress is being made," Natalegawa said.

Prior to the vote, Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee addressed the council, saying Tehran's nuclear program "has been, is, and will remain absolutely peaceful and in no way poses any threat to international peace and security".

Khazaee rejected the Security Council's requirement that it suspend its uranium enrichment activities, branding it as "legally defective and politically coercive".

He described the Security Council decision on Monday as "unjust and irrational".

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2008)