Russia says Iran missiles don't boost sanctions case

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Iran's recent missile tests do not boost the case for imposing sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear program, Interfax news agency quoted a senior Russian diplomat as saying Tuesday.

Iran has test-fired a new round of missiles ahead of a meeting in Geneva Thursday between Iran and a six-member group including five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany on Tehran's nuclear program.

"I think ... there is no question of using this fact to escalate debates on imposing sanctions," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev last week backed Western pressure on Iran to give up military elements of its nuclear program by warning Tehran that "other means" could be used if the Geneva talks failed.

The test launches followed Iran's announcement last week it was building a second uranium enrichment plant, a move which raised fresh concerns about the goal of Tehran's nuclear program.

But Ryabkov admitted that the test launches could be used by proponents of sanctions at the Geneva talks to bolster their positions.

"In the atmosphere of acute political debates around the Iranian nuclear program, the test launches indeed add arguments for those who seek to start discussing additional sanctions," he said.

Russia, a veto-wielding permanent member of the U.N. Security council, has backed three sets of mild sanctions against Iran in the U.N. Security Council. But it has so far blocked any strong measures against its ally.

Medvedev's remarks made after meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama were broadly interpreted by analysts as a sign of toughening of Russia's approach to Tehran.

However, Monday Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov urged restraint in reaction to the Iranian missile launches, although he said that they worried Russia.

Ryabkov welcomed Iran's proposals handed over to the six-member group earlier this month and treated skeptically by the Western powers.

"The Iranian proposals are broad enough," Ryabkov said. "They enhance a number of issues related to international security and more. There is a broad field for dialogue."

(Writing by Oleg Shchedrov; Editing by Dominic Evans)