Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, has said sanctions against Iran are neither the best nor the only way to resolve the controversy over its nuclear programme.
His comments follow yesterday's meeting in London of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany at which they failed to agree how to pursue the matter.
Germany's Deputy Foreign Minister said there was no consensus about how to draft a resolution which could go before the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, next month.
US and EU leaders have been seeking Russian and Chinese backing to refer Iran to the UNSC over its moves to pursue its nuclear programme.
The UNSC could adopt sanctions against Iran if referred by the board of the IAEA.
Moscow, which has a $1bn stake in the construction of Iran's first atomic reactor, wields the greatest potential foreign leverage over Tehran of any other country.
Russia has so far resisted efforts led by the US, Britain, France and Germany to have Iran reported to the UNSC.
Meanwhile, Iran has said it will suspend its voluntary cooperation with the IAEA if referred to the UNSC.
Iran's ambassador to the IAEA, Ali Asgar Soltaniyeh, also said a move to resume nuclear research work was irreversible.
