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An international strategy to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions is looking increasingly under stress as western states struggle to build a consensus for a fourth round of sanctions at the United Nations.

In spite of Tehran's refusal to take the carrot of diplomatic engagement, China and others in the UN Security Council insist it is too early to wield the sanctions stick.

Western states had hoped to secure the passage of new and tough measures at the start of the year. But officials now acknowledge that a sanctions resolution is unlikely to reach the 15-member Security Council before June, if then.

There is no deadline for action, but western states want to avoid a clash with a conference reviewing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to be held at the UN in New York in May. Iran, a signatory to the treaty, is expected to try to make political capital out of the gathering, even without the incentive of a sanctions debate going on in the same building.

The US and its allies have circulated a draft of outline sanctions to their partners in the "P5 plus 1" - the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany, also known as the group of six powers. Russia has noted the proposals but declined to discuss them until China responds.

"In the past, the Chinese have hidden behind the Russians on sanctions," said one frustrated diplomat. "This time it's the other way round. The process isn't broken. It's just the usual game."

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