Russia: No unilateral sanctions for Iran

MOSCOW, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Russia opposes unilateral sanctions against Iran and favors resolving a nuclear dispute through multi-national negotiations, RIA Novosti reported Saturday.

"We believe that this collective work could have been more effective if there were no parallel steps on unilateral sanctions against Iran, not to mention regular calls for military force against the country," Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to reiterate his commitment to multi-national talks when he visits Tehran this week, Lavrov said.

Six nations are involved in talks to persuade Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program. They are China, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.

The United States and France have urged tougher penalties against Iran while Russia favors the six nations reaching a collective agreement, Lavrov said.

A vote by the six nations delayed in September is to be taken next month after reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency on the progress and scope of Iran's nuclear program.