The new draft UN Security Council resolution on Iran has taken into account most of Russia's approaches to breaking the deadlock over Iran's nuclear program, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

"The new draft resolution, which has been drawn up by the European trio (Britain, France and Germany) and is being debated within the UN Security Council, has taken most of our approaches into consideration," Lavrov told the Interfax news agency in an interview.

The top Russian diplomat said the draft focuses on spheres of nuclear activities that provoke concern in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including uranium enrichment, chemical reprocessing and heavy water programs, as well as means of delivery of nuclear weapons.

"We hope that this basis will allow the UN Security Council to reach a consensus that would persuade the Iranians to sit down at the negotiating table and ensure vigorous and comprehensive cooperation with the IAEA on all the remaining issues about Iran's nuclear activities," he said.

Lavrov's comments followed a telephone conversation he had with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about the resolution. Russia remains opposed to harsh sanctions against Iran for its failure to comply with an earlier Security Council resolution.

That resolution required Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment by Aug. 31. But Iran ignored the deadline.

The United States has been seeking to impose sanctions on Iran through the UN Security Council on the grounds that the Islamic republic is developing a nuclear weapon program under the cover of a civilian program. However, Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Source: Xinhua