WASHINGTON, May 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will discuss Iran and other issues with Russian counterparts during her upcoming trip to Moscow, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday.

    "I expect that when Secretary Rice goes out to Moscow -- leaving Sunday night -- talking about Iran and next steps is going to be high up on the list," McCormack said.

    "We want to work cooperatively on this. We worked very well on the last round of sanctions, the last Security Council resolution; had a very good process in which there was good, private consultation with the Russians and Russian leadership. We want to replicate that process and talk about what the next moves are, tactically," McCormack said.

    McCormack said the United States respects the Russia's viewpoint on Iran and will take its viewpoint into account.

    "But it is important that the Iranian regime understand quite clearly that they will not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. I think the Russian government would agree with that statement, as would other members of the Security Council," he said.

    Russia, who has close economic ties with Iran, has complained U.S. efforts to isolate Iran as well as the recent U.S. move to dispatch a second aircraft carrier to the Gulf region.

    The United States has repeatedly accused Iran of supporting the insurgents in Iraq and secretly developing nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied these charges.

    During her visit to Moscow next week, Rice will also try to persuade Russia to accept a U.S. plan to deploy missile defense shield in East Europe.