US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov talked through telephone about the resolution to impose sanctions on Iran, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a briefing yesterday.

Moreover, the United States hopes the UN Security Council can have a vote on the draft resolution on Iran sanctions soon, McCormack said.

"We are hopeful we can get a vote in the very near future -- itis time for a vote," McCormack said.

The United States has been seeking to impose sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council on the grounds that the Islamic country develops a nuclear weapon program under the cover of a civilian program. However, Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Russia, while enjoying close economic ties with Iran, has been opposed to harsh sanctions imposed on Iran. The United States has voiced optimism that its differences with Russian in terms of Iran sanctions resolution are narrowing.