Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said Wednesday that despite Iran's ambiguous response to an offer of incentives to halt its uranium enrichment there was "potential" in the ongoing dialogue with Tehran.
"We certainly do not believe that it is a foregone conclusion that it (the dialogue) is not going to be successful," Churkin told reporters. "We think there is some potential to that dialogue."
Earlier, the State Department in Washington said the six world powers holding talks on Iran's nuclear program were weighing new U.N. sanctions against Tehran, following its ambiguous response to their offer to resolve the dispute.
"We are beginning to consider the possible outline for another sanction resolution," U.S. State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said in a statement.
The six powers are the five permanent members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany.
Asked about Iran's response, Churkin replied: "We would have preferred a clear yes. But it is more complicated than that... We do believe that dialogue can continue."
He said he was unaware of talk of starting work on new sanctions against Tehran and noted that the issue would be taken up by G8 foreign ministers when they meet here next month.
Asked whether there was agreement among the six powers to proceed to the drafting of a new sanctions resolution, France's U.N. deputy ambassador Jean-Pierre Lacroix replied: "Our objective is not sanctions for the sake of sanctions.
"We have to resort to the Security Council (sanctions) if we don't see there's any possibility to enter into a dialogue," he noted. "But we are getting closer to the point where we will make that determination."
As to the timing of such a resolution, Lacroix said it was "anyone's guess" although he insisted that the six powers were "pretty cohesive" in terms of their dual approach - sanctions while pursuing dialogue - with the Islamic Republic.
U.S. media reports earlier said the United States and its allies were to press for a new set of U.N. Security Council sanctions. But Russia and China could resist the move, diplomats said.
The 15-member Security Council has already imposed three sets of sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment work.
The six powers had offered Iran a package of technological incentives if it suspends uranium enrichment, which the West fears could be used to make nuclear weapons.
Tehran has steadfastly refused to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, which it says are only aimed at producing fuel for nuclear power for a growing population.