Key members of the UN Security Council said Friday they still hope Iran's nuclear standoff would be resolved by peaceful means after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) submitted to the council a report which said Iran has defied the council's demands by refusing to halt uranium enrichment.

U.S. President George W. Bush reiterated on Friday that he wanted to resolve Iran's nuclear issue diplomatically and peacefully.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev, Bush said: "I assured the president of my desire to solve this problem diplomatically and peacefully."

But Washington also signaled clearly that, as possible future moves, it may act on its own to step up pressure on Tehran.

"We certainly are hoping for unanimity among the five permanent members," said the US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton. "But unanimity or not, we are prepared to move forward."

As a next step, Washington is calling for a resolution that invokes Chapter 7, the UN charter's section that spells out possible punitive measures -- including military force -- against countries deemed threats to "international peace and security."

Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations Wang Guangya on Friday called on the international community to solve the Iran's nuclear crisis through diplomatic means.

"Under the current situation, to talk about sanctions and military measures on Iran's nuclear issue are counterproductive," Wang told Xinhua after the Security Council got the latest report from the IAEA.

Meanwhile, he told reporters that "there are a lot of problems in the region and we should not do anything that would cause the situation to become even more complicated."

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Friday that the door to negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue was still open.

"We continue to say to Iran ... that the door to negotiations has not been closed," he said, adding: "We remain convinced that a diplomatic solution must be found to this crisis."

"It is up to the Iranian leaders to make the moves which will restore trust in the objectives of their nuclear program," the foreign minister said.

He also pointed out that Iran's rejection of UN Security Council demands was "alarming" for the entire international community.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw asked the UN Security Council to increase pressure on Iran.

"We will now be asking the Security Council to increase the pressure on Iran so that the international community can be assured that its nuclear program is not a threat to peace and security," he said in a statement.

"It is very serious that the Iranian regime has failed fully to cooperate with the IAEA and the United Nations Security Council."

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak said on Friday that Russia would thoroughly study the IAEA report before giving any comments.

"We will be studying the report very thoroughly to determine our position and possible steps to solve the issues related to the Iran nuclear problem," Kislyak was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

"It would be premature to give comments on the report, for this is a very serious document," he said.

Kislyak said the UN Security Council might hold a session on the Iran nuclear problem after some consultations.

"As for the dates for holding a Security Council meeting, nobody has ever imposed any limitations here, and the parties would first have to hold more than a few consultations."

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany was intent on finding a diplomatic solution to the standoff.

"We remain convinced that only a diplomatic solution can resolve the situation," he said at a press conference.

Source:Xinhua