Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said...

Last week, diplomats from the United States, France and Britain said they had sent draft proposals to the Russian and Chinese delegations at the United Nations. The five countries, along with Germany, comprise a group of international mediators negotiating with Iran on its nuclear program.

"The issue is being discussed," Lavrov said. "There has been no draft resolution as such. Our Western partners are discussing the ideas that they think could comprise such a resolution."

Lavrov reiterated Russia"s stance on Iran"s controversial nuclear program. Moscow insists the problem should be resolved by diplomatic means and new sanctions against Iran, if adopted, should be a "balanced" last resort.

The Russian foreign minister said, however, that the Iranian nuclear issue would be discussed in the Security Council if the Islamic Republic did not provide a "constructive response" to IAEA proposals on uranium enrichment.

Under a plan drawn up by the IAEA last October,

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