(From L to R - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and US Secretary of State John Kerry pose for a group picture at the United Nations building in Vienna, Austria, July 14, 2015. (Photo: VCG )

Chinese Foreign Minister and State Councilor Wang Yi met Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, as remaining parties of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal decided to keep working to maintain trade with Tehran.

Diplomats from Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China, Iran and the EU met in New York on Monday and agreed to establish a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to facilitate payments related to Iran's exports including oil, an idea to circumvent US sanctions due to be restored in November.

US President Donald Trump decided in May to abandon the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - under which Iran accepted restraints on its nuclear program in return for the lifting of UN sanctions, and to restore economic sanctions on Tehran, including those that seek to force the OPEC member's major oil customers to stop buying Iranian crude. The remaining parties have been salvaging the deal. 

At the bilateral meeting, Wang told his Iranian counterpart that China supports Iran in safeguarding its interests, opposing unilateralism and defending the JCPOA.

Wang commended Iran's efforts in implementing the JCPOA, noting that China is pleased that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recognized Iran's obligations in the deal.

Wang also condemned the terrorist attack in Iran on Saturday.

Zarif thanked China's support to safeguard the JCPOA and said Iran and the international community will work together to maintain the deal.

Zarif said that Iran attaches importance to ties with China and appreciates China's commitment to promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation.