United Nations: Russian objections may delay vote on the watered-down European draft resolution to impose limited sanctions on Iran scheduled for later in the day.

Though the Western diplomats were optimistic that they could hold the vote as scheduled, their Russian counterparts said they do not expect a vote before tomorrow.

Russians, diplomats say, agree to the main thrust of the resolution which would ban member states from supplying equipment and technology which could help Iran's uranium enrichment programme, heavy water reactors and missile projects which could help deliver the atomic weapons.

But Moscow objects to freezing of assets of persons and entities involved in its nuclear programme.

The resolution would identify 12 person and 11 entities but the list could be enlarged later.

Britain, France and Germany, who drafted the resolution, originally had proposed travel ban on the individual connected with the programme but modified the provision to ask member States be vigilant and report to the Council if they cross their borders. That was meant to meet the American objections.

The resolution also calls for freezing assets of the identified person and entities to which Russia has some objections.

The Russian diplomats said only two or three points remained to be sorted out but agreed that they were very thorny.