Moscow: Russia on Thursday said there was still every chance of reaching a deal with Iran over its nuclear programme, adding that the question of new UN Security Council sanctions was not on the agenda.
The comments came despite the apparent rejection by Tehran of a UN-brokered offer the day earlier, which prompted US President Barack Obama to warn of "consequences" in the form of toughened sanctions against Tehran.
"At the current moment it is important to let diplomacy work, and superfluous emotions only harm the situation," Russian foreign ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko added in a statement.
He said there was still "every chance" of implementing a preliminary offer brokered by the UN nuclear agency under which foreign states would further enrich Iranian uranium abroad.
"Currently there is no discussion about working out additional sanctions measures against Iran at the UN Security Council," he said.
Russia is a permanent, veto-wielding, member of the UN Security Council and the United States requires its support -- as well as that of China -- if it is to agree a new set of sanctions against Tehran.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009, 22:01