Tensions have been rising between Iran and the West over the Islamic regime's suppression of mass street protests sparked by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's contested re-election.

'Isolating Iran is the wrong approach,' Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said following talks with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini in the northeastern city of Trieste.

Asked whether the G8 should harshly criticise Iran for its crackdown, Mr Lavrov answered 'no one wants to condemn' Tehran and insisted that the international community should maintain dialogue.

Mr Lavrov's comments came as G8 ministers began three days of talks dominated by the crisis in Iran.

Russia has refused to condemn Iran for the turmoil since the June 12 poll, calling it an internal matter, but Moscow has called on Tehran to resolve the dispute peacefully through constitutional means.

Mr Frattini said the G8 was working on 'a good document that would include condemnation... but at the same time one that will recognise that electoral procedures are an Iranian question.'

The Italian foreign minister earlier voiced confidence that the world powers would stand together in condemning the Islamic regime over violence that has left at least 17 dead, according to state media.

'Iran is at a turning point,' Mr Frattini said. 'It must now choose whether or not it wants to keep the door open to dialogue with the international community.

'Because the open hand from the United States, that we supported, must not be greeted with a hand covered in blood,' he said. -- AFP