Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said in Moscow that "It's too early to say what changes should be brought to the draft resolution to satisfy the Russian side. Consultations are ongoing." Russia's Interfax news agency reported.

"Russia has come out with the proposal, whose essence is Iran's freezing uranium enrichment works for the period to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on rebuilding confidence in the character of the Iranian nuclear program," he added.

France and Britain, backed by the United States, introduced Wednesday a new draft resolution to the UN Security Council demanding Iran suspend all enrichment activities immediately or face possible sanctions.

The draft invokes Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, under which the council can resort to economic or diplomatic sanctions, or even military action, to ensure its decisions are implemented.

Chinese ambassador Wang Guangya reiterated that both the UN Security Council and the international community should hold consultations seriously on Iran's nuclear issue to resolve the crisis through better means.

He said under the current circumstances, to talk about sanctions and military measures on Iran's nuclear issue are counterproductive, and the international community should insist on the peaceful solution to the nuclear crisis.

The draft was circulated at a closed-door meeting of the 15-nation Security Council, days after the IAEA sent a new report to the council confirming Iran's noncompliance with its demand to suspend Uranium enrichment activities.

The draft resolution "calls upon Iran without further delay to take the steps required by the IAEA Board of Governors" and "decides, in this regard, that Iran shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA, and suspend the construction of a reactor moderated by heavy water.

The IAEA would be requested to present another report within an unspecified time frame on whether Iran implements the resolution.

The council would "consider such further measures as may be necessary to ensure (Iran's) compliance with this resolution," the draft says.

But the draft also notes that "full verified compliance by Iran, confirmed by the IAEA board, would avoid the need for such additional steps."

Diplomats said a vote on the draft resolution was unlikely until after Monday's meeting of foreign ministers from the council's five permanent members -- the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain, in New York.