The United States should seek Russia''s close cooperation in dealing with Iran and solicit Moscow''s participation or at least acquiescence to a missile defense system in Europe, a panel of former high-level American diplomats and members of Congress urged on Monday.

Calling for across-the-board repairs to a splintered relationship with Russia, the commission took note of some recent positive trends.

But the panel warned that "we are deeply concerned by the gap between the current U.S.-Russian relationship and the level of cooperation that the United States needs with Russia in order to advance vital American interests."

The commission, headed by former Sens. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and Gary Hart, D-Colo., is a joint project of the Nixon Center, a Washington think tank, and the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs of Harvard University.

Describing current relations as "deeply troubled," the commission said, however, Moscow is not hostile to the United States, "at least not yet."

Even if the relationship breaks down completely, Russia does not have the will or the resources for a new Cold War, the report said.

Both governments are to blame for the decline, the panel concluded. Rebuilding the relationship "is not solely the responsibility of the United States," the report said.