Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Ahead of the nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers, the United States imposed bans on companies from China and Dubai for having business dealings with Tehran.

The U.S. government said on April 29 that it had added eight Chinese companies, a Dubai firm, and two Dubai-based executives to its blacklists, Press TV reported.

The U.S. Treasury, State, and Justice Departments made the coordinated move in response to the evasions of U.S. restrictions on Iranian weapons, oil, and banking transactions.

The move comes as Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said on April 29 that he is not pessimistic about reaching a final agreement with the P5+1 on Tehran's nuclear energy program, stressing that his country would never succumb to pressure and bullying.

"I am not pessimistic about the negotiations, but reaching a final agreement at the end of a six-month period depends on whether or not the opposite side is ready for proper interaction," Rouhani said in a live TV interview.

Iran and the six world powers - the United States, France, Britain, Russia, China, and Germany- sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24, 2013, to pave the way for the full resolution of the decade-old dispute with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program. The deal came into force on January 20.

Under the Geneva deal dubbed the Joint Plan of Action, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran's agreement to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities for six months.

Iran and the six powers are scheduled to resume expert-level talks on Tehran's nuclear energy program in New York on May 5.

Negotiations will be held ahead of a fresh round of high-level nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1group beginning on May 13 in Vienna, Austria.

Earlier on April 28, China said it "resolutely opposes" any U.S. sanctions that might harm the non-proliferation work between the two countries after Washington laid charges against a Chinese businessman accused of allegedly procuring missile parts for Iran, Reuters reported.

The U.S. State Department said it was offering a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Li, who is also known as Karl Lee.

Li has been the target of U.S. sanctions in the past for his alleged role as a principle supplier for Iran's ballistic missile program.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said China resolutely opposes the United States using its domestic law to impose unilateral sanctions on Chinese companies or individuals.

Beijing also urged the United States to stop these wrong acts of imposing sanctions on Chinese companies and individuals and return to the correct path of anti-proliferation cooperation.