Mr. Lavrov said he believed that a new set of proposals that Iran gave to European nations on Wednesday offered a viable basis for negotiations to end the dispute. He said he did not believe that the United Nations Security Council would approve new sanctions against Iran, which could ban Iran from exporting oil or importing gasoline.

“Based on a brief review of the Iranian papers, my impression is there is something there to use,” Mr. Lavrov said at a gathering of experts on Russia. “The most important thing is Iran is ready for a comprehensive discussion of the situation, what positive role it can play in Iraq, Afghanistan and the region.”…

“Some of the sanctions under discussion, including oil and oil products, are not a mechanism to force Iran to cooperate,” Mr. Lavrov said Thursday at a meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, an annual meeting of Russia experts. “They are a step to a full-blown blockade, and I do not think they would be supported at the U.N. Security Council.”

Mr. Lavrov added, “Iran is a partner that has never harmed Russia in any way.”