Top diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany met here Thursday to discuss ways to solve the Iranian nuclear crisis.

This was the first meeting of the diplomats from Britain, France, Russia, China, the United States and Germany since Iran defied the Aug. 31 deadline set by the UN Security Council resolution to freeze its uranium enrichment.

U.S. officials are pushing for sanctions against Iran, with German chancellor Angela Merkel warning of possible actions against Tehran, but ruling out the use of military force.

Russia and China insist on diplomatic means to settle the issue.

The six nations have offered Iran an incentive package in exchange for Tehran's promise to suspend its controversial nuclear program.

Talks on Iran's nuclear program, scheduled for Wednesday between Iranian and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had been postponed to Saturday, which would be a final attempt to see if there was common ground to start negotiations between Iran and the six nations.

Iran has been insisting on its right to a peaceful nuclear energy development program and continuing with its uranium enrichment program, but the West suspects Tehran has been secretly working toward developing a nuclear weapon.

Source: Xinhua