China on Thursday reiterated its call for diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, urging all parties to move toward a negotiated solution to the long-standing issue.

"A peaceful solution through diplomatic means is the best way and complies with the interests of all parties," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang at a regular news briefing.

"China is in close contact with the relevant parties and strives to promote peaceful negotiations," said Qin.

He Yafei, China's ambassador to the United Nations Office in Geneva, said Wednesday that China had been talking to Iran constantly and urging the country to agree to a proposal by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as a first step to resolve the nuclear issue.

Under the IAEA proposal, most of Iran's existing low-grade enriched uranium should be shipped to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel rods with a purity of 20 percent. The higher-grade nuclear fuel would then be transported back to Iran for the use at a research reactor.

"I think the door of compromise through negotiations, the door of diplomacy, is not closed," He said.

The United States and Western allies have long been accusing Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian program, and are discussing a United Nations resolution to impose sanctions.

Iran has denied the accusation and stressed its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes.