On October 1, President George W. Bush signed Iran Freedom Support Act, which extended sanctions against countries maintaining energy cooperation with Iran and supplying weapons to the Islamic Republic.
"This will not help find decisions that could compel Iran to seek a compromise," Sergei Lavrov said in London, which is hosting negotiations between the six mediators on Iran: France, Germany, the United States, Russia, China and Britain
The U.S. has pressed for sanctions against Iran, which some countries suspect of pursuing a weapons program under the cover of peaceful nuclear re search, though Tehran has consistently denied the allegation saying it needs nuclear energy for electricity. Russia and China, who hold vetoes on the UN Security Council, have said they oppose sanctions.
"If the U.S., by imposing unilateral sanctions, is trying to set the tone for discussion within Iran-6, then we absolutely cannot agree with this," he said. "This does not correspond to the previously coordinated criteria."
