ANALYSIS-China diplomatic zigzag over Iran set to continue

(repeats with ANALYSIS tag)

By Chris Buckley

BEIJING, Jan 22 (Reuters) - China's diplomatic tack between Iran and the West enters increasingly narrow straits on Tuesday, when Beijing appears likely to back strong words but not strong actions against Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi will join counterparts in Berlin from the four other permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, as well as Germany, with Western powers favouring a third and tougher U.N. resolution pressing Iran to halt uranium enrichment and cooperate more with inspectors.

The West suspects Iran is pursuing the means to make nuclear weapons. Iran says its atomic programme is for civilian energy.

But while Beijing may not trust Iran's uranium plans, it does like the Iranian oil and gas feeding its voracious energy appetite. And in Berlin, China's zigzag approach to addressing both worries is set to continue.

China will likely accommodate Washington's demands for a fresh resolution, but only one shorn of serious economic threats that could choke ties with Tehran, said Chinese experts.

"China and Iran are not in the same boat," said Yin Gang, a Middle East analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"China hopes it can achieve a resolution that raises pressure but does not risk serious economic fallout, and I'm not sure the European powers are really thinking that differently".