MOSCOW (AP) -- President Vladimir Putin on Sunday emphasized that Russia and Western powers are working together to resolve the conflict with Iran over its nuclear program.

Speaking to leading lawmakers from the Group of Eight industrialized nations, which Russia heads this year, Putin said that a summit he hosted in July affirmed the readiness of the G-8 to continue active and coordinated efforts in the sphere of nonproliferation,’ according to a Kremlin transcript of his comments at the meeting in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi.

Today, this is reflected in the coordinated work on resolving the issue of Iran’s nuclear program,’ he said.

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday that sanctions should be used only in extreme cases.