"What I'm worried about is we may see competitive development of these devices," Annan said. "And we need to take time ¡ª we need to take real effort to assure that we don't get into that situation in the region."

The latest draft resolution being discussed by key Security Council members would order all countries to ban the supply of specified materials and technology that could contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. It would also impose a travel ban and asset freeze on key companies and individuals in the country's nuclear and missile programs who are named on a UN list.

Russia and China remain at odds with the United States and key European countries over the travel ban and a list of companies and individuals that should be subject to a freeze of their financial assets.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Monday there had been "some progress" during talks among the six key nations trying to negotiate with Iran ¡ª Britain, France, Germany, the US, Russia and China. But he called the travel ban "unnecessary" and said that while Moscow accepts the concept of having some financial restrictions related to prohibited nuclear-related activities, "we have not agreed with the list."

Ambassadors from the six countries met again Tuesday, with the United States and Britain pushing for adoption of the resolution this week.

The full 15-member council was scheduled to discuss the proposed resolution later Tuesday.

"We are very close, we think," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said in Washington. "This should be easy; there should be a 15-0 vote."

Acting US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said Monday the US views the travel ban as "a priority and an important element of this resolution and we will continue to push for it."

The six countries offered Iran a package of economic incentives and political rewards in June if it agreed to consider a long-term moratorium on enrichment and committed itself to a freeze on uranium enrichment before talks on its nuclear program.

With Iran refusing to comply with an Aug. 31 council deadline to stop enrichment, Britain and France circulated a draft sanctions resolution in October.

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