The issue of applying sanctions against Iran in connection with its nuclear program "is not on our, that is, Russia's agenda," Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Nikolai Spassky was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying at an international conference on global security.

The "problem of the Iranian nuclear program can be resolved only on the basis of strict adherence to norms of the international law and within the framework of international formats," Spassky told the media. "It is most important now to wait for the IAEA Secretary-General Mohamed ElBaradei's report, due at the end of April."

The gist of Russia's attitude to the Iranian nuclear program is "preservation of the nonproliferation regime and recognition of Iran's inalienable right to develop nuclear power," he said.

"We by no means regard the situation as hopeless, we keep working and negotiating, although the situation is complicated and one should have no illusions about that. There remains a realistic chance of achieving a diplomatic solution for this problem," he said.

The Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin echoed Spassky on Friday by saying that "one can speak about sanctions against Iran only after concrete facts appear confirming that Tehran is not engaged only in the peaceful activity in the nuclear field."

Kamynin stressed that Russia's stance on Iran had not changed, and that the "concern of the world community about the nuclear program of Iran cannot be lifted only with forcible or sanction methods."

Russia is helping Iran to build its first nuclear power station, while the United States is pushing the United Nations to take tough measures against Tehran to check its nuclear program, which the U.S. claims has hidden non-peaceful aims. The White House has declined to take the alternative solution of military force off its list of options.