A Japanese-backed draft resolution to impose sanctions on North Korea for its series of missile launches has “broad and deep support”, despite some differences in the Security Council, US Ambassador John Bolton said today.

United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan has urged Iran’s foreign minister to speed up Tehran’s response to a package of incentives from world powers to roll back its nuclear enrichment programme.

Iran is ready for a conditional return to intrusive inspections of its nuclear programme, but uranium enrichment will continue, a senior official said today.

A Russian diplomat says Moscow remains optimistic the five veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council will break a deadlock on confronting Iran's nuclear programme, as the nations' foreign ministers took up the issue in new efforts to reach a deal.