In an apparent reference to the long-running controversy around Iran's nuclear program, Putin told a meeting in the Foreign Ministry: "We do not intend to join any form of ultimatum that lead to a dead-end and strike a blow against the authority of the UN Security Council."
"I am sure that conflict resolution should involve dialogue and not isolation of any states," he said.
Iran has come under intense international pressure to halt its uranium-enrichment program, which the Islamic Republic says is for civilian purposes but other countries suspect is being used as cover for a weapons program. The United States, France, and Britain have called for the UN Security Council to impose sanctions.
"Such an approach gives not only hope, but real positive progress, which has been proved more than once," he said, adding that non-proliferation issues should be settled by diplomatic means.
"As for non-proliferation, we [Russia] believe that work in the political and diplomatic arena is effective, as well as the search for compromises based on international law," Putin said. "If there are gaps in [international] law, than it should be improved on a collaborative basis."
He reiterated that Russian had already proposed the idea of international centers for uranium enrichment.
