In an annual marathon news conference on Thursday, Putin said the deal reached last month between Iran and global powers would have been impossible without the "pragmatic position" of President Barack Obama's administration.

Iranian negotiators interrupted the talks last week on implementation of the interim agreement in protest against the US blacklisting of an additional 19 Iranian companies and individuals under existing sanctions, saying the move was against the spirit of the deal.

"As for sanctions, I am certain that this is a counterproductive decision," Putin said. "I hope ... movements in this direction will not be a barrier to all of us moving forward toward a solution to the Iranian nuclear problem."

Russia has sharply criticized unilateral punitive measures imposed on Iran by the United States and Europe.

Putin, whose country built Iran's first nuclear power plant, said Iran had the right to a peaceful nuclear program and "the international community has no right to demand any discriminatory restrictions on it."

DB/