The five permanent members of the UN Security Council held unscheduled consultations here Thursday on a binding Franco-British draft resolution demanding a halt to Iran's uranium enrichment.
The envoys of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States huddled behind closed doors to review the text as technical experts of the full 15-member council met separately to pore over it.
Council ambassadors meanwhile awaited instructions from their capitals ahead of a vote which US officials now say is not expected before Monday's New York meeting of foreign ministers of six major powers working on the Iran nuclear issue.
The six countries are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - the five veto-wielding council permanent members - plus Germany.
In Washington, State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said consultations would be held Thursday and Friday and ambassadors of the council's five permanent members plus Germany would discuss the draft over dinner in New York on Monday.
"I don't really expect it (the resolution) to come to a vote before the dinner," a senior US official, speaking on background on condition of anonymity, said in Washington. Iran insists its nuclear ambitions are strictly peaceful. But Washington accuses Tehran of using its civilian program as a cover to build atomic weapons, and is seeking tough UN action.