Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed this to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during a telephone conversation yesterday, the Kremlin press office said.
"In discussing the situation around Iran's nuclear programme, Putin elaborated on the Russian side's principled stance in favour of further negotiations," it said.
During the conversation at the initiative of the Iranian President, issues pertaining to bilateral relations were also discussed.
Western powers at the UN Security Council have been pushing for sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt uranium enrichment but Russia and China have been reluctant to vote for a severe set of penalties against Tehran.
Russia has consistently supported Iran's right to civilian nuclear energy under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and is building a nuclear power plant for the Islamic nation in Bushehr.
Though a draft resolution of the Security Council, proposed by Britain, Germany and France, provides for selective sanctions on Iran, it will not affect construction of Bushehr nuclear power plant.
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