MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia will not support “excessive sanctions” against Iran in the United Nations Security Council, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Wednesday.

“South Africa and Indonesia have proposed amendments (to a proposed UN resolution) which among other things underline the global nature of non-proliferation and we believe these amendments deserve the most attentive consideration,” Lavrov said. “We will treat them constructively.”

“We earlier agreed to act on Iran gradually and proportionately. … We will not support excessive sanctions,” Lavrov told the lower house of Russia’s parliament.

The United States and leading European powers suspect Tehran of pursuing a nuclear weapon under cover of its atomic energy program. Iran denies such a plan.

Russia, which has a veto in the Security Council, has watered down previous resolutions on sanctions.