"I expect it will likely be in Europe and likely be at the end of next week," US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of the planned ministerial-level meeting.

"It hasn't been finally nailed down yet, but I hope to be able to talk to you more about that soon," McCormack said of the planned meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany.

Top officials from the six nations met in London on Wednesday to discuss what action to take against Iran, which Washington and its allies accuse of secretly moving toward making a nuclear bomb.

Iran denies such claims and says it nuclear program is peaceful.

Britain, France and Germany have prepared a package of incentives to try to persuade Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program. The United States and its allies are also pushing for a UN Security Council resolution which could eventually call for sanctions. China and Russia oppose talk of sanctions.

Asked about the package of incentives, McCormack told reporters: "We're not going to pick out any particular element of the package under discussion right now.

"What I think the world is looking for is for Iran to return to suspension of its enrichment-related activities."

McCormack said top officials from the six nations would hold telephone talks on the dispute on Tuesday.

US officials have said progress was made at the London talks, but McCormack would not say what differences remain to be overcome.

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