"Russia has come out with the proposal, whose essence is Iran's freezing uranium enrichment works for the period of work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on rebuilding confidence in the character of the Iranian nuclear program," Kislyak was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

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.

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 enrichment activities.

After weeks of tough negotiations, the council adopted a presidential statement at the end of March urging Tehran to comply with the IAEA's demands to build confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.

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 measure also "calls upon all states to exercise vigilance in preventing the transfer of items, materials, goods and technology that could contribute to Iran's enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and missile programs."

The IAEA would be requested to present another report within anunspecified 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, alluding to coercive actions, including economic or diplomatic sanctions.

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