Britain has presented a text that would extend sanctions on Yemen and lay the groundwork for possible sanctions against Iran after a UN report found Iran had violated the arms embargo on Yemen.

Russia has made clear it opposes the text, raising the prospect of a likely veto.

Britain, France and the United States were holding talks with Russia and China on the measure in a bid to reach a compromise, a Security Council diplomat said.

A vote initially scheduled for 10 am (1500 GMT) was delayed.

Russia on Saturday circulated a rival draft resolution that would extend the sanctions regime on Yemen until February 2019, but makes no mention of Iran.

The report by a UN panel of experts in January concluded that Iran was in violation of the 2015 arms embargo after determining that missiles fired by the Huthis at Saudi Arabia last year were made in Iran.

Russia however maintains that the report's findings are not conclusive enough to justify action against Iran.

While the report found that Tehran had violated the embargo by failing to block the shipments, the experts said they were unable to identify the supplier.

Nine votes and no vetoes from the five council members - Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States - are required to adopt resolutions at the Security Council.

Iran has repeatedly denied arming the Huthis in Yemen, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia that the evidence of an arms connection is irrefutable.

Russia, which has traditionally friendly relations with Iran, is providing military support along with Tehran to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces.

A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in a conflict that has led to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.