BERLIN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Diplomats representing the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members and Germany met Wednesday to discuss Iran's nuclear issue.

    None of the six countries involved, which also included Britain, China, France, Russia, and the U.S., has commented on the specific goals of Wednesday's meeting.

    The gathering had been scheduled before Iran late Monday successfully launched a satellite into orbit. The launch has caused concern amongst analysts and government officials in Europe, the U.S. and Israel that Iran may link its satellite programs and its work with missiles and nuclear technology.

    U.S. President Barack Obama has shifted U.S. policy on Iran since he took office Jan. 20 and wants to engage in "direct diplomacy" with Tehran.

    German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in late January urged Iran not to reject Obama's offer to open direct talks on its nuclear program and stressed diplomacy as the way to solve the dispute.

    The six countries have offered Tehran a package of economic and energy incentives in exchange for the halting of its uranium enrichment program.

    The U.S. and its allies allege that Iran is using the program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons. At the same time, the Security Council has imposed sanctions to pressure Iran to comply.

    Iran insists it is only seeking nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Iran denies secret negotiations with U.S.

    TEHRAN, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- Iran's intelligence Minster Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie denied any secret negotiations with the U.S., Iran satellite Press TV reported on Sunday.

    "To date, there have been no official negotiations with the Americans... and there would be no negotiations between Tehran and Washington unless the U.S. changes its aggressive policies towards the country," Mohseni-Ejeie was quoted as saying. Full story

Iran says U.S. has no choice, but change

    TEHRAN, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iran's government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham on Saturday urged the United States to change its policy towards Iran and the world, saying the country has no choice.

    Responding to the U.S. offer of direct talks between Iran and the United States, Elham said that "there remains no choice for the United States but change, and this change is determined to be done," Iran's Mehr news agency reported. Full story

Iran says to respond positively to U.S. policy change

    DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian foreign minister said on Thursday his country will respond positively if the new U.S. administration makes a genuine policy change.

    "We do believe that if the new administration of the United States, as President (Barack) Obama has said, is going to change its policies, not in talking but in acts, then definitely it will find in the region a creative and cooperative reaction, including from Iran," Manouchechr Mottaki told a panel at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos. Full story

Iran anticipates "practical," "fundamental" changes in U.S. policy

    TEHRAN, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran said it anticipated "practical" and "fundamental" changes in the U.S. policy as Washington looked forward to direct diplomacy with Tehran and urged Iran to take the opportunity to be engaged more productively.

    Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that the United States must make a "fundamental" change in its policy instead of only tactics. Full story