Russia has called on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment as demanded by the UN Security Council and to study the incentives on offer - including improved relations with the United States.
Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said there is broader consensus among the world's powers today on how to deal with Iran and a new reality on the ground that will hopefully create the right conditions for Tehran to halt enrichment.
But in Tehran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini called a new Security Council resolution imposing a third round of sanctions "worthless" and politically motivated.
Hosseini said Iran will move ahead with its uranium enrichment program, according to the official news agency IRNA.
Speaking to reporters at UN headquarters in New York last night, Churkin highlighted the unity of the six countries that have been in the forefront of efforts to ensure that Iran's nuclear intentions are peaceful and not aimed at producing atomic bombs.
Foreign ministers of the six - the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - issued a joint statement after Monday's council vote reaffirming their dual-track approach: They would sweeten a package of economic incentives and political rewards offered in June 2006 if Iran suspends enrichment, but would push for even more sanctions if Tehran continued its defiance.
"We hope (it) is being very carefully read in Tehran because it does indicate some very important motives ... and intentions of the six in working with Iran," Churkin said. He said the entire 15-member Security Council had "rallied" around the statement.
Churkin said the ministers have dealt with Iran respectfully and have called for further diplomatic efforts and approaches to create the conditions to open negotiations.