BERLIN (Reuters) -- Imposing economic sanctions against Iran to persuade it to relinquish its nuclear program would be a "very dangerous path", German deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler told German radio, according to a summary of his comments released on Saturday.

He said sanctions would hurt both sides and that he favored imposing travel restrictions on Iranian politicians as a more effective way of exerting pressure on Tehran.

He said travel restrictions would have "an extraordinarily unpleasant impact," according to the summary of the interview, which is due to be broadcast on Sunday.

Also Beijing fears that referring Iran's nuclear program to the UN Security Council "might complicate the issue" and could harden the positions of some parties, China's UN ambassador said on Friday.

"Our concern is that to refer it to the council might complicate the issue," Ambassador Wang Guangya told reporters at UN headquarters.

"I think this might make the positions of some parties more tough on this issue," he added.

He noted as an example Iran's threat to halt snap UN inspections of its nuclear facilities if the matter is taken to the Security Council.

European Union powers Britain, France and Germany, backed by the United States, said on Friday that their talks with Iran over its nuclear program were at an impasse and the issue should be shifted to the 15-nation Security Council.

That could eventually lead to international sanctions on the world's fourth biggest oil exporter, although blanket sanctions like an oil embargo are considered highly unlikely.

China's stand on a council referral is crucial because it is one of the council's five veto-wielding permanent members, along with the United States, France, Britain and Russia, and could therefore block any action it chose to.