U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton said no progress was made in talks on November 15 involving himself and envoys from Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany.
The United States and its European allies support imposing sanctions that would target Iran's nuclear and ballistic-missile programs, but Russia and China have so far been reluctant to agree.
Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department official said on November 15 that the United States is ready "in principle" for direct talks with Iran about the role being played by Iran in Iraq.
David Satterfield, a senior adviser to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, told a U.S. Senate committee on that the timing of such a dialogue with Iran was still being reviewed by U.S. officials. U.S. leaders have previously linked any talks with Tehran to Iran suspending uranium-enrichment work.
(Reuters, AFP, BBC)