China, Iran and Russia called for diplomacy over “pressure and threats” and an end to “all illegal unilateral sanctions” following talks on Tehran’s nuclear program Friday in Beijing, Chinese state media said.

China and Russia are both permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, along with France and Britain, that took part in the original 2015 Iran nuclear deal preliminary framework agreement. Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018, setting in motion years of tensions in the wider Middle East.

China has called for “illegal” sanctions against Iran to be lifted after the country’s leaders met in Beijing. Representatives of Russia and Iran were hosted by China this week as the three countries “exchanged views on the Iran nuclear issue and other issues of common concern,” according to Chinese State Media.