WASHINGTON, May 4: The United States is trying to put together a united front of likeminded nations to force Iran to abandon its nuclear programme as it became apparent that China and Russia may not support the US move to bring UN sanctions against Tehran.

President George W. Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke of such a front when they met in Washington on Wednesday and also acknowledged that it would not be easy to convince the Security Council to sanction Iran.

“We think it is … crucial in this context that we try to draw as many partners as possible into the fold, and to clearly show to the Iranians that this is unacceptable,” said the Germany chancellor after her meeting with Mr Bush at the Oval Office.

“We will continue to consult with our partners as to how to achieve a diplomatic solution to this issue. And the timing of resolutions and what they should say is all — what allies do,” said Mr Bush.

“We spent a lot of time discussing how to work with US allies in trying to make sure that the Iranians do not develop a nuclear weapon,” he added.

Neither leader, however, would deal directly with ways to bring China and Russia alongside the countries moving toward sanctions.

Earlier on Wednesday, three Western nations introduced a new UN Security Council resolution that could trigger sanctions against Iran unless it abandons uranium enrichment, despite objections from Russia and China.

The resolution would declare Iran’s nuclear program to be a threat to “international peace and security” and seek certain sanctions against Iran. These could include a ban on technology with civilian and military uses, a travel ban on Iranian officials and a possible ban on arms sales — but not oil sanctions, said Nicholas Burns, the US under-secretary of state.

Still, fears that the dispute could lead to disruption of Iran exports pushed oil prices above $74 a barrel on Tuesday.

The US State Department said earlier this week that if securing sanctions proved to be impossible in the Security Council, the Bush administration would pursue them with like-minded allies.