World powers meeting at the United Nations’ nuclear agency have agreed on a draft resolution sharply criticizing Iran for its nuclear activities while deferring any discussion of new UN sanctions until the spring, two Western diplomats familiar with the document said Thursday, November 17.

The resolution, which is expected to gain formal approval by the nuclear watchdog’s 35-nation governing board Friday, is a partial victory for Western powers seeking a unified message of rebuke to Iran over its nuclear policies.

But the omission of any specific recommendations for penalties was a concession to Russia and China, which have steadfastly opposed new sanctions against Iran, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity in describing diplomatic deliberations. Just 48 hours earlier, some Western governments had been skeptical that the two countries could be persuaded to support any resolution strongly critical of Iran.

The draft resolution expresses “deep and increasing concern about the unresolved issues” in Iran’s nuclear program, particularly allegations that Iran has sought sensitive technology used in making nuclear warheads, said a senior U.S. official familiar with the document now before board members of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Although it contains no specific recommendation for new sanctions, the document urges Iran to agree to new negotiations “without preconditions,” and it calls on the IAEA to update its findings in March.