"We don't approve of Iran's permanent demonstration of its intentions to develop its rocket sector and continue to enrich uranium," Lavrov was quoted by the RIA Novosti and Interfax news agencies as saying.

"It's impossible to ignore the fact that problems with Iran's nuclear programme have arisen in recent years. While they haven't been resolved it would be better to refrain from actions that raise tensions and create the impression Iran is ignoring the international community," he said.

Lavrov, who was speaking en route from an EU-Russia meeting in Ljubljana, said it was necessary for all sides in talks on Iran to concentrate on resolving the matter at hand rather than being guided by "considerations connected to the political agenda of the day," ITAR-TASS reported.

Earlier this month Iran fired a rocket into space to mark the opening of its first space center, hailing the base's inauguration as a step in its battle against what it sees as Western dominance.

Meanwhile Tehran has continued to enrich uranium, despite the fact that Russia is supply uranium for the Bushehr nuclear power station being built by Moscow in the south of the Islamic republic.

Western countries suspect that Iran's stated aim of developing nuclear power may be a cover for an atomic weapons programme, something Tehran denies.

Russia is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and has relatively close ties to Iran.

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