Iran said it preferred Russia’s stance on its disputed nuclear program even though Moscow has said it supports limited sanctions on Tehran, The Associated Press reported.

“Russians’ stance is better than other…countries. They have a softer policy. Since the beginning, their stance was different,” said Mohammad Ali Hosseini, spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry.

But Hosseini said the UN Security Council’s push to impose sanctions on Tehran because it has refused to suspend uranium enrichment would delay any possible compromise with Iran.

“Back to negotiation is the best amendment. Nothing else will be effective and will bear desirable result for the both sides,” said Hosseini. “Russia clearly has announced that they did not support the current draft.”

A European draft resolution to punish Iran for continuing uranium enrichment despite council demands that it stop would order all countries to ban the supply of material and technology that could contribute to Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and to impose a travel ban and asset freeze on companies, individuals and organizations involved in those programs.

But on Saturday, Russia’s foreign minister said Moscow would only support sanctions against Iran if they were for a limited time and spelled out a clear mechanism for lifting them, Russian news agencies reported.

Both Russia and China have continued to publicly push for dialogue instead of UN punishment, despite the collapse last month of an E.U. attempt to entice Iran into talks.Tehran has rejected a package of incentives offered by six world powers because it required it to freeze uranium enrichment, which can produce fuel for atomic power or material for a nuclear warhead. Oil-rich Iran insists its nuclear program is purely aimed at generating electricity, but the US and its allies fear it is a cover for a weapons drive.

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