China is hosting diplomats from Iran and Russia for talks on Iran’s nuclear program Friday as Beijing aims to position itself as a power broker on an issue seen internationally as a pressing security concern.

Senior Chinese and Russian diplomats said dialogue should only resume based on "mutual respect" and all sanctions ought to be lifted.

China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, his Iranian counterpart Kazem Gharibadi, and Russian Vice Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Friday called for “an end to all illegal unilateral sanctions” and the creation of “a favorable atmosphere” for diplomacy.