MESEBERG, Germany - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Saturday there is agreement over sanctions for Iran but that path is still not the desired one. Medvedev said at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that "agreement on the sanctions exists," Russian news agencies reported. "But nobody wants sanctions. We hope the voice of the international community will be heard by the Iranian leadership," Medvedev was quoted as saying. Russian president arrived Friday for a two-day visit to eastern Germany to discuss a range of issues with Merkel. Russia has been traditionally opposed to sanctions for Iran, a longtime trade partner, but in recent months officials have shown less patience with Tehran's refusal to clarify its nuclear agenda. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, meanwhile, said on Saturday that the United Nations Security Council could soon approve a new round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. Speaking at a joint news conference with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Merkel described the consensus among world powers on Iran sanctions as a "major diplomatic advance," describing it as a sign of growing concern over the country's nuclear work. "It is possible that in the near future the sanctions can be approved by the UN Security Council," she said.