"We believe this work can be much more effective if there are no parallel steps in terms of sanctions against Iran, leaving alone periodic calls to use military force against Iran," Lavrov said during joint talks also with US Secretary of Defence Robert Gates and Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov.

"These unilateral steps stick out from the agreed agenda, they undermine and they impede our collective effort," Lavrov added. "It is extremely important that Iran realises the international community is unified."

Russia, a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council, has been reluctant to back US-led calls for tougher sanctions aimed at forcing Iran to halt nuclear activities that Washington and EU capitals say are designed to build an atomic arsenal.

Iran says its nuclear programme is aimed at providing electricity.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.