A planned meeting of diplomats from major powers on Iran's nuclear programme will not take place this year although discussions will continue by telephone, the State Department said yesterday.

"It's been decided that because of scheduling difficulties that it won't be possible this year. They look forward to continuing to consult as they do on a frequent basis," said spokesman Ian Kelly.

Mr Kelly said top diplomats from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - along with Germany would likely speak by telephone about Iran before the end of the year.

The group is pressing Tehran on its nuclear programme, which Western powers fear is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Tehran denies this and says it is only for peaceful purposes.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton yesterday said diplomatic efforts to win concessions from Iran on the nuclear issue were not bearing fruit and the international community would look at alternatives - presumably sanctions - to press its case.

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