Israel has received no guarantees from Russia or China that they will support sanctions against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday, as quoted by national media.

However, he said that he hoped that even if their support was not forthcoming the two permanent members of the UN Security Council would not exercise their rights to a veto on sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its nuclear program.

Netanyahu said on his recent visits to Russia and China that the Iranian nuclear project was the main threat to Israeli security.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on March 1 he did not rule out that Moscow would back sanctions against Iran, but added that if were used, they should be a "balanced" last resort.

Iran's recent move to begin enriching uranium to 20% sparked a new wave of international criticism, with the U.S. leading calls for new harsher sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Western powers suspect that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at making weapons, while Tehran claims it needs enriched uranium for civilian energy purposes.

TEL AVIV, March 2 (RIA Novosti)