Russia and China said today diplomacy was the best way to tackle the dispute over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Mohamed ElBaradei, chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is widely expected to tell the council and the agency's board tomorrow that Iran has not stopped enriching uranium or fully answered IAEA queries as the UN body asked a month ago.
"A diplomatic option suggests different ways to react. We will discuss this issue with our European partners, the United States and the international community," President Vladimir Putin said, stressing that any response should be co-ordinated.
"We oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction including by Iran. But we believe Iran should have an opportunity to develop peaceful nuclear energy projects," he said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Siberia.
Unlike several of his ministers, Mr Putin did not explicitly rule out possible sanctions until there was proof of Western suspicions that Tehran was secretly seeking atomic weapons.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, but it has also vowed to pursue large-scale enrichment of uranium, which can be used in bombs as well as power stations.
China gave no sign it was ready to line up behind nations seeking sanctions against the Islamic Republic, but analysts said it was unlikely to block their way.
The Foreign Ministry in Beijing called for calm, restraint and patience.
"A diplomatic solution is the correct choice and is in the interests of all parties," a spokesman said. "China urges all parties to avoid measures that could worsen the situation."
The United States, backed by Britain and France, favours limited sanctions if Iran refuses to halt enrichment very soon. Russia and China, the Security Council's other two veto-holding permanent members, have opposed any embargo.