Lavrov, who is in the Slovenian capital for a meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) that opens Monday, did not give any further details about efforts to re-start talks between the so-called EU-3 -- Britain, France and Germany -- and the Iranians.

"Russia supports the initiative of the EU troika," Lavrov told reporters. "Russia wishes now the resumption of the negotiations as soon as possible ... and we will continue our parallel efforts."

He added: "We consult with our European partners, we can contribute to the negotiations, but there is no mediation."

On Saturday Lavrov had said Tehran was ready to resume talks with the EU-3, which put off seeking to have the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) refer Iran to the Security Council for possible sanctions in order to allow Russian diplomacy to work.

Lavrov also reiterated Moscow's proposal to allow Iran to conduct uranium enrichment outside the country in Russia. In that way Iran would not be able to obtain the nuclear technology crucial to making atom bombs.

But Iran insists on its right to make enriched uranium, which can be nuclear reactor fuel or atom bomb material, on its territory.

Backed by the United States, the EU is seeking talks with Iran on guaranteeing that the Islamic Republic is not secretly developing nuclear weapons, as Washington claims it is.

Neither a date or a location for a new meeting between the parties has been set, according to diplomatic sources.

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