"If new sanctions are imposed, we're sure that sanctions should be limited to non-proliferation only, and not be expanded to cultural, humanitarian, economic parts of Iranian activity," he told reporters.

"Of course we cannot deny the Iranians legal right to develop nuclear energy," he added.

However he underlined that major world powers must first exhaust attempts to persuade the Islamic republic to respond to a package of initiatives proposed by the UN nuclear energy watchdog.

"We think we should continue this track, but we can't run this track endlessly," Ivanov said, on the sidelines of a major international security conference in Munich, southern Germany.

"The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has put forward a combined package of initiatives agreed by all sides of the negotiations. We are still waiting for a clear, unequivocal response from the Iranian side," he said.

"We still have unanswered questions ... and I think the sooner Iran answers them the better it is for the whole international community, including Iran."

Russia, one of the few major world powers to have close ties with Iran, has long blocked tougher sanctions on Tehran in the UN Security Council and is building Iran's first nuclear power plant in the city of Bushehr.

The United States, which fears that Iran is seeking to build an atomic bomb under the guise of its civilian nuclear programme, has been seeking Russia's support for a new round of UN sanctions against Iran.

Measures said to be under consideration at the United Nations include tougher sanctions targeting Iran's insurance, financial and arms sectors.

Iran denies developing atomic weapons and insists its nuclear programme is peaceful in nature.

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