BEIJING (Reuters) - China supports Iran holding talks on its nuclear program with the United States and opposes the use of force and "illegal" unilateral sanctions to try to resolve the issue, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday.

New U.S. sanctions against Iran's energy sector point to Washington's "lack of goodwill and seriousness" over dialogue with Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday ahead of Iran-U.

Former foreign ministry official says the talks are a “litmus test” for diplomacy and “an opportunity for both sides to gauge each other’s positions beyond media narratives and rhetoric.”