MOSCOW, May 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that it was premature to think about imposing sanctions on Iran over its reluctance to abandon its nuclear program.
"Before thinking about how to punish Iran, it is necessary to focus on a search for a decision that would encourage Iran to resume a dialogue," Lavrov told journalists over whether Russia would back sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
He said any immediate attempts to slap negative scenarios on Iran would fall flat.
Since Iran refused to stop uranium enrichment activities, which the United States, France and the United Kingdom consider a cover for the production of nuclear weapons, the three countries have been pushing for a new draft UN Security Council resolution providing for tough sanctions against Iran, including the use of force.
