The United States has vowed to continue pushing for United Nations Security Council action on Iran's recent ballistic missile tests.
The US said on Monday Iran's tests violate a UN resolution and accused Russia of looking for reasons not to respond.
"Russia seems to be lawyering its way to look for reasons not to act," US Ambassador Samantha Power said after a closed-door meeting of the 15-nation Security Council convened at Washington's request.
Power was referring to comments from Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who made clear that in the view of veto-wielding Russia, Iran's ballistic missile tests did not violate council resolution 2231, adopted in July, that endorsed an historic nuclear deal between Tehran and six world powers.
Resolution 2231 "calls upon" Iran to refrain from certain ballistic missile activity.
Churkin argued a call was different to a ban, and that there was the legal distinction.
Western nations see Resolution 2231 as a clear ban, though council diplomats say China and other council members agree with Russia's and Iran's view.
Iran's UN mission issued a statement opposing Monday's council discussion of its missile tests.
It added that statements Iranians made about Israel were merely a response to Israeli threats.
A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander was quoted recently as saying that Iran's medium-range ballistic missiles were designed to be able to hit Israel.
The tests last week drew international concern and prompted Monday's meeting of the 15-nation Security Council.
Power called the tests "provocative and destabilising."
Speaking to reporters ahead of the closed-door meeting, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon urged council members to take new "punitive measures" against Tehran over the launches, which he said were a direct threat against Israel.
Israel has been a strong critic of the nuclear deal between Iran and major powers last year that relaxed most international sanctions against Tehran in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear program.
