Western diplomats at the United Nations are urging Iran to be more flexible in talks with world powers on Tehran's nuclear program.
Senior French diplomat Philippe Bertoux told the UN Security Council that Iran needed to take "strategic choices and courageous decisions."
Senior British diplomat Michael Tatham urged Iran to be more flexible, and Deputy U.S. Ambassador David Pressman said Washington would not talk with the Iranians indefinitely without results.
The comments on December 18 followed inconclusive negotiations in Geneva this week between Iran and six global powers seeking to ensure Tehran does not acquire nuclear weapons capability -- the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China.
The criticism contrasted sharply with praise for Iran from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Tehran has shown "very great flexibility" in recent negotiations.
Last month, Iran and the six world powers failed for the second time this year to meet a self-imposed deadline to resolve a 12-year standoff.
They set a new July 1 deadline for a deal that would curb Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the removal of economic sanctions.