BEIJING - The tough sanctions imposed against Iran over its nuclear program have made it more difficult to continue dialogue with Teheran, analysts said.

"The sanctions are pushing Iran away from the negotiating table, " said Zhai Dequan, deputy secretary-general of the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association.

The UN resolution came only two days before Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's visit to China on Thursday and Friday. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, he is only in China to attend Iran's national pavilion day activities at the Shanghai Expo.