11-01-07 China warned the United States 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 gasfield.
"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 US was interfering in its dealings with Iran, Liu said that "this is our position."

The US government expressed concern in December to Beijing about a planned investment by state-owned Chinese oil company CNOOC Ltd. in Iran's Northern Pars gasfield. Washington said major business dealings with Tehran were inappropriate at a time when Iran was defying UN 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 its nuclear program is for producing energies.