The five veto-holding UN Security Council powers faced another struggle yesterday to come up with a text aimed at reining in Iran?s nuclear ambitions without threatening sanctions or other punitive measures.

Russia and China are resisting a proposal from the United States, Britain and France for a council statement that would express ?serious concern? about Iran?s nuclear program and urge it to abide by resolutions from the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA.

France and Britain, in an informal meeting of all 15 council members on Tuesday, distributed ?elements? for a statement that would call on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment efforts, which the West believes are a cover for bomb making. The decision to involve the full council followed several days of inconclusive talks among the permanent five members. The permanent members met for the fifth time yesterday.