China’s Foreign Minister said new sanctions aren’t the solution for halting Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, two days after one of his diplomats said China may vote for such measures at the United Nations.

“We believe that diplomatic efforts have not been exhausted,” Yang Jiechi said during a televised press conference today at the National People’s Congress meetings in Beijing. “Pressure and sanctions are not the fundamental way to resolve the Iran nuclear problem.”

Yang’s comments come after the U.S. gave China, Britain, France, Russia and Germany a proposal in the past week to tighten restrictions on dealings with Iran’s banking, shipping and insurance industries. The plan also targets the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said has largely taken control of the nation.

China may vote in the coming weeks for tougher UN sanctions aimed at blocking Iran’s development of nuclear weapons, a Chinese diplomat said on March 5.

China’s differences with the U.S. and its European allies aren’t as great as have been reported, according to the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. China isn’t refusing to back sanctions, and its difficulties with the latest U.S.-drafted proposal can be overcome, the envoy said.

Coverage of same by Reuters.