UNITED NATIONS, July 20: Once again United States and Russia are divided on the approach to the Iranian nuclear programme which was sent to the UN Security Council, after Iran did not respond to the American and European incentives and proposals: the US wants a resolution by Friday and the Russians say they are in ‘no hurry’.

Iran has said it will respond to the incentives package by the end of August.

The five permanent members of the UN Security Council have been meeting daily to thrash out their differences over the new elements in the Iranian resolution proposals. So far no significant progress has been reported.

Russia’s Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the council wants an answer sometime soon to a June 5 package of incentives that six world powers offered to Iran if it stopped enrichment. But he stressed the council is not trying to push Tehran.

“We are not in a rush at all. We do not want to ambush Iran in any way. We’re very much in a negotiating political mode. We do not want to dictate things to Iran” Mr Churkin said.

But the United States’ UN Ambassador, John Bolton, who said he expected to reach a resolution from the Security Council by the end of the week.