MOSCOW, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday it would be "very strange" if the major Western powers had secretly formulated their own strategy for the Iran nuclear issue.

    Lavrov said he had heard of a document posted on the Internet reportedly drafted by British diplomats and addressed to his counterparts in Germany, France and the United States, which was said to "contain the Western partners' strategy for Iran kept secret from Russia," the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

    "If that is really so, it will be very strange because over thepast few months we have pressed for formulating a joint action strategy," Lavrov said.

    "Moscow is unlikely to agree to anything devised behind its back and then presented as the sole solution possible," he said.

    The Iran nuclear standoff escalated after Tehran resumed nuclear fuel research in January, which prompted the decision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) last month to reportits case to the UN Security Council.

    Lavrov's remarks come as the five permanent council members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- are discussing a statement on the Iranian nuclear issue drafted by Britain and France.

    The statement sets a two-week deadline for Iran to suspend all activities for building nuclear fuel reactor and to fully cooperate with the IAEA. Enditem