Major powers fail to break impasse over Iran

Envoys of the five veto-wielding members of the UN Security held informal contacts but failed to break an impasse over a draft statement urging Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.

US ambassador John Bolton hosted the gathering at his country's UN mission which was attended by his counterparts from Britain, China, France and Russia.

"No agreement," Russian Ambassador Andrei Denisov told reporters after the 90-minute session which he described as "constructive".

"We truly tried to keep unity of our small group ... We still need time to consult," he added.

"The consultations continue," Bolton said.

After two weeks of talks, the 15-member Security Council is unable to agree on a Franco-British statement that aims to reinforce demands by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that Iran halt activities such as uranium enrichment which could aid weapons development.