“I believe that until diplomatic means are exhausted, sanctions would be too radical,” Lavrov told a news conference in Warsaw. “We have to do everything to persuade Iran to begin negotiations … The issue needs to be resolved diplomatically.”
Leaders from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are planning to meet on Friday or Saturday to discuss Iran.
The Eurppean Union said on Thursday Iran was close to triggering sanctions by refusing to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can make fuel for nuclear power plants or material for atomic bombs.
Iran insists it only wants to master nuclear technology to make electricity.
