China stalls new sanctions on Iran, says U.S

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China is stalling U.S. efforts to get a third round of U.N. sanctions against Iran for refusing to give up sensitive nuclear work, a senior U.S. official and diplomats said on Thursday.

The permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- as well as Germany had planned to meet in London on November 19 to discuss a U.N. sanctions resolution against Iran but China has balked at attending the meeting.

"Frankly, what we need now is for the Chinese to play a constructive role not only in working the schedule of the meeting but also to have constructive and effective conversations about the elements of the (U.N.) resolution," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

A report from the International Atomic Energy Agency released on Thursday said several questions remain about Iran's nuclear work.

Both China and Russia, veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, have reservations about imposing more sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to give up uranium enrichment.

But the United States, France and Britain are pushing hard for a new U.N. sanctions resolution and Germany has indicated it also will support such a move........