China is “very much engaged” in working with the United States to punish Iran for its nuclear program, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday in London. Clinton’s comments came as the Obama administration prepares to push for new sanctions on Iran at the United Nations.

Clinton spoke with Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi of China and said they had a “constructive” talk, though she declined to specify what the next step forward on Iran would be. President Barack Obama said in his State of the Union address Wednesday night that Iran would “face growing consequences” for ignoring international obligations over its nuclear program.

“We made it clear to everyone with whom I spoke today and yesterday that our efforts to apply pressure on Iran are not meant to punish the Iranian people; they are meant to change the approach that the Iranian government has taken toward its nuclear program,” Clinton told reporters.