German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said here Thursday that it was up to Iran to take a decision whether to choose isolation or negotiation to solve its nuclear issue.

Steinmeier made his appeal at a joint conference with foreign ministers from the UN Security Council permanent members after a meeting to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue.

Steinmeier, who hosted the meeting, urged Iran to seize the opportunity to choose the path leading to negotiation by suspending its nuclear activities.

The meeting came one day after the UN Security Council unanimously adopted a presidential statement calling on Iran to resume suspension of all uranium enrichment-related activities within 30 days.

The two-hour meeting focused on future strategy toward Iran, which insists that its nuclear program is only for peaceful use.

The participants of the meeting are Deputy Foreign Minister of China Dai Bingguo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice.

Straw said that it is Iran's onus to prove its nuclear program is peaceful.

Germany has been part of the European trio, along with Britain and France, to try to persuade Iran to give up its nuclear program over the past years.

European Union chief diplomat Javier Solana also took part in the meeting.

Source: Xinhua