MOSCOW (Reuters) – Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev yesterday said the Brazilian president was unlikely to succeed in his last ditch attempt to prevent further sanctions against Iran by mediating with the Islamic Republic.

Brazil’s flamboyant president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, travels to Tehran this weekend in a bid to persuade Iran to revisit a stalled fuel swap deal, though world powers are now discussing further sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

“You want me to give the odds or President Lula,” Medvedev quipped to a reporter who had asked at a joint news conference what the odds were that the Lula visit would be success.

“Okay. As my friend the Brazilian president is an optimist, I shall also be an optimist. I give 30 percent,” Medvedev said.

When asked about his odds of success at meetings with the Iranian leadership on a scale of one to 10, Lula replied: “I would give 9.9”.

Medvedev, echoing words from a senior US official this week, said Lula’s trip was probably the last chance for finding a resolution to the impasse over Iran’s nuclear programme.

The United States, Israel and major EU powers say Tehran’s efforts are a front for a drive to develop atomic weapons and want to stop Iran from acquiring them.

Iran denies it is seeking a nuclear bomb while Russia has said there are valid doubts over the true aims of the programme.

In a charismatic bid to win a diplomatic role fitting for Brazil’s $1.6 trillion economy, Lula is seeking to mediate in one of the world’s most complicated international negotiations.