Representatives of China, Russia, and Iran have called for an end to U.S. sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program and a restart to multinational talks on the issue. The three nations emphasized the necessity of terminating all unlawful unilateral sanctions and highlighted the importance of political and diplomatic engagement. China and Russia have close relations with Iran, and all three countries share a joint interest in diminishing the role of the U.S. and other liberal democracies in determining world events. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful, but its officials increasingly threaten to pursue a nuclear weapon.