China and Russia on Tuesday pushed for more discussions on the Iran nuclear dispute as Tehran's top negotiator threatened to withdraw from all cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency if sanctions are imposed.

"We advocate that this issue be resolved through negotiations and peaceful means," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said. "There is still room to resolve this issue through dialogue."

Ali Larijani, Iran's nuclear negotiator, said the country would suspend its cooperation with the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency.

Speaking at an international conference on Iran's energy program Tuesday, Larijani warned he was thinking about dropping out of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty _ which the IAEA oversees _ if the U.N. Security Council imposes sanctions.

Iran faces a Friday deadline to meet the Security Council's demand that it suspend enrichment of uranium, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear reactors or material for nuclear warheads.

The United States and Britain are backing the proposal. China and Russia, which are also permanent, veto-wielding members of the council, are vehemently opposed.

Russia's defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, said Tuesday that only diplomatic and political steps will help resolve the simmering dispute.

"Russia and China are for political and diplomatic measures. We see no alternative to the negotiations process," Ivanov was quoted as saying by Russia's Interfax news agency.

Ivanov, who was visiting Beijing for a regional anti-terror meeting, said he had discussed the issue with his Chinese counterpart, but Interfax gave no other details.

"We call on all parties to show flexibility," Qin said. "The international community should not abandon its efforts for a peaceful settlement. ... All moves should be helpful to achieve such an objective."