Moscow: Iran Sanctions will be Seen as Bid at Regime Change

New sanctions against Iran will be perceived by the world community as an attempt at changing the regime in the Islamic republic, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Gannady Gatilov said on Friday.

"Additional sanctions against Iran, as well as potentially any military strikes against it, will unquestionably be perceived by the international community as an attempt at changing the regime in Iran," Gatilov was quoted as saying by Interfax.

The diplomat's comments came as European governments said they were moving closer to an agreement on an Iranian oil embargo that would give companies six months to phase out contracts with Tehran.

Russia has backed four rounds of U.N. Security Council sanctions against its regional ally while calling for the utmost restraint in the West's escalating tensions with Iran over its nuclear program.

Gatilov said that new sanctions would only undermine the world community's efforts at peacefully resolving the conflict.

"Our position states that considering the previously adopted U.S. Security Council resolutions limiting military cooperation with that country, U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran have completely exhausted themselves," he said.

"The adoption by Western states of unilateral measures that go outside the frameworks of U.N. Security Council decisions have a negative effect on the Iranian people and its economy," the Russian diplomat said.

"This line of action undermines the international community's efforts at resolving the Iranian nuclear problem," he said.