Visiting UN chief Kofi Annan said here on Thursday that international efforts were underway to arrange a meeting between Iran and the six nations over Iran's controversial nuclear programme.

Annan made the remarks during a news conference in Amman on theday a UN Security Council deadline expires for Tehran to halt sensitive nuclear work.

The chief told reporters that "I know that attempts have been made to organise a meeting between Iran and the other six players. The meeting has not taken place yet."

Regarding the possibility of sanctions against Iran if it fails to suspend uranium enrichment, he said that the situation was "in the hands of the Security Council."

"I would need to be in touch with the players to find out how are they intending to proceed," he added.

Annan arrived in Jordan for a two-day visit on Wednesday, he held talks with King Abdullah II and other top officials on Thursday on the regional developments.

The UN chief earlier visited Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian self-rule areas in a bid to cement a ceasefire in Lebanon and quell Israel-Palestinian violence. He is likely to visit Syria, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Egypt in later days.