The meeting aims to reach a consensus among the six nations on a new package of both incentives and penalties, in a bid to persuade Iran to give up current activities of uranium enrichment,local media quoted anonymous diplomats in Vienna as saying.

The consultation on Thursday among the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany would focus on the possibility of any further step against Iran.

But Iran's position has not changed. "The main incentive for Iran is to recognize the essential right of Iran to have nuclear technology," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday during his visit in Malaysia.

The six nations achieved some progress in formulating a common position at the meeting on the Iran nuclear issue in London last Wednesday.