Russia: Iran missile tests no reason for sanctions

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iran's missile test launches should not be used as an additional argument for imposing sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program, Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian diplomat as saying on Tuesday.

"I think ... there is no question of using this fact to escalate debates on imposing sanctions," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. Ryabkov said Iran's proposals to six Western powers due to hold negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program on Thursday "offered broad field for dialogue."

(Writing by Oleg Shchedrov, editing by Tim Pearce)