WASHINGTON: The United States has “tactical differences” with Russia and China on adopting new UN sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear program, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said.

But Rice said the major powers still agreed on a carrot-and-stick strategy with Tehran despite new US intelligence showing Iran had stopped an alleged atomic arms program in 2003.

“Well, we’ve had affirmations from everyone that the two-track strategy remains in place,” Rice said referring to the National Intelligence Estimate, published December 3, which undercut the US drive for sanctions.

“We have some tactical differences with Russia, in particular, and to a certain extent, China, about timing, about the nature of any further sanctions,” Rice was quoted as saying.

The United States has been involved in talks with Russia, China, Britain and France -- which make up the five permanent UN Security Council members that all have veto power -- and Germany.

The strategy aims at offering Iran a dialogue that could give it economic benefits if it stops enriching uranium or at threating a third round of punitive sanctions.—AFP