The UN Security Council plans to vote tomorrow on a resolution imposing sanctions on Tehran's nuclear work, a one-day delay because of Russian objections to parts of the measure.
The current council president, Nasser Abdelaziz al-Nasser of Qatar, said the full 15-member council would consult later on Friday on the measure, before a scheduled vote on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the key negotiators - Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia and China - were consulting with each other in New York and in their respective capitals.
The resolution demands Tehran end all uranium enrichment work, which can produce fuel for nuclear power plants as well as for bombs, and halt research and development that can make or deliver atomic weapons.
The thrust of the sanctions is a ban on imports and exports of dangerous materials and technology relating to uranium enrichment, reprocessing and heavy-water reactors, as well as ballistic missile delivery systems.
Iran has vowed to continue its nuclear program, which it says is for peaceful uses only, even if the resolution is adopted with the approval of Russia, which is building an $800 million light-water reactor for Tehran at Bushehr that is exempted in the resolution.
Russian UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, according to council diplomats, wanted to soften a provision calling for a freeze on financial assets abroad of 11 individuals and 12 Iranian organizations associated with nuclear programs to prevent them from buying dangerous materials.