VIENNA, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- Sanctions against Iran would only deepen the country's nuclear crisis, Russia Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Wednesday.

    "Sanctions would not help," Lavrov told reporters, adding that sanctions are just a prelude to further exacerbation.

    Lavrov made the remarks at a press release after meeting with Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, who said Iran should abandon uranium enrichment.

    Russia has proposed that uranium enrichment -- the most sensitive part of the nuclear fuel cycle -- be carried out under a joint venture on the former Soviet republic's soil.

    Iran has officially notified Russia of plans to send a delegation to Moscow on Feb. 20 for talks on Russia's uranium enrichment offer, the Interfax news agency reported on Wednesday.

    "Iran has sent a letter officially notifying us of the Feb. 20 visit. Russia has received it," said Vyacheslav Moshkalo, an official of the Russian Embassy in Tehran.

    Lavrov confirmed that Russia would meet with Iran next week to discuss his country's proposal. Enditem