( Newsvine ) - Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled that Russia was opposed to any new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, saying such a move would undermine the work of the U.N. atomic watchdog, Russian news agencies reported Thursday
"Interference by means of any sanctions would undermine the International Atomic Energy Agency's efforts," Lavrov was quoted by ITAR-TASS and RIA- Novosti as saying at the United Nations, where he was attending a meeting of the General Assembly.
"The U.N. Security Council measures on Iran should be balanced and respond to the steps taken by Tehran itself that obliged to answer all questions," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
On Wednesday, Lavrov and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice exchanged sharp words as the Bush administration tried to cement support for new U.N. sanctions on Iran.
The U.S. accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, something Tehran adamantly denies.
Iran is already subject to two U.N. sanctions resolutions as well as a growing number of financial penalties from individual nations, but China and Russia have been reluctant to agree to a new U.N. resolution.
Diplomats from Russia, China, Britain, France - the other permanent Security Council members - and Germany were scheduled to meet later Thursday to discuss the issue.