Russia is against using sanctions to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said in Moscow yesterday prior to the opening of the six-party consultations on over the delicate issue.

"We are convinced that neither sanctions nor (the) use of force will lead to the solution of the problem," Kamynin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

All the basic provisions of Russia's stance on this account "are well known and remain valid," the spokesman said, calling for a political settlement of the situation.

Taking part in the consultations in Moscow are high-level diplomats from Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France and Germany.

Kamynin said Moscow was concerned with the recent statement by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Iran's creation of full nuclear cycle.

He described it as a step in the wrong direction that went against the will of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and was in defiance of a statement by the UN Security Council chairman.

"Russia is calling on Iran to take steps to implement the IAEA documents," Kamynin said.

The UN Security Council on March 29 adopted a presidential statement that urged Iran to fully restore the suspension of all activities related to uranium enrichment in 30 days.