1 Dec 2009 18:02

Tehran

MOSCOW. Dec 1 (Interfax) - Cooperation between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is more preferable than imposing sanctions against Tehran, a Russian diplomatic source said.

"It is not the imposing of sanctions that we would consider more preferable, but a more open and coherent cooperation between Iran and the IAEA and clearer steps (on the part of Tehran) in response to those concerns which, as we see, are getting increasingly substantiated," the source told journalists on Tuesday.

"We will not add further complications to the talks by threatening sanctions," he said.

Moscow will not follow Iran's example by making statements that make the talks more difficult, he said.

"But we will work, having such a possibility (of sanctions) in mind. It is simply our duty to reflect on the content of these sanctions," the source said.