The 15-member Security Council on Wednesday unanimously approved a non-binding statement giving Iran 30 days to abandon its uranium enrichment activities, ending a weeks-long impasse.

"We've had tactical differences and this gives us the chance to stay together as we move forward," Rice said en route from Washington after the Security Council deal, a compromise struck after weeks of haggling, notably with Russia.

"When you are taking a first step, the unity of ... the Security Council is extremely important."

The talks in Berlin bring together Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- the United Nations Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members (P-5) -- plus Germany, one of three European powers that have pursued nuclear talks with Tehran.

The UN talks had been marred by differences between the United States and its Western allies on the one hand and Russia and China on the other over how to coax Tehran away from sensitive nuclear research.

The statement that finally prevailed is a watered-down version of a Franco-British statement that calls on Iran to meet demands from the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

It expresses clear concern that Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons secretly, demands that Iran comply with the wishes of the IAEA governing board and calls for an IAEA report within 30 days.

Iran responded by formally offering to set up a "regional consortium" to enrich fuel for its nuclear programme.

"One possibility to resolve the issue could be the establishment of a regional consortium on fuel cycle development," Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told the UN Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

He said the consortium, which he implied would be based in Iran, could involve "countries which have already developed fuel cycle programmes at the national level and intend to develop further their programme for civilian purposes."

Iran's UN ambassador Javad Zarif said earlier that any attempt to coerce Iran would backfire.

"We have made it clear that Iran doesn't want nuclear weapons," Zarif said, but also warned: "We are allergic to pressure and intimidation and we do not respond well to that."

Germany called the talks in Berlin to map out a long-term strategy on how to contend with Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment, which could be used to build a nuclear bomb.

Besides Rice, the working lunch brings together German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Jack Straw of Britain, Philippe Douste-Blazy of France, Sergei Lavrov of Russia, Chinese deputy foreign minister Dai Bingguo and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

Douste-Blazy said he hoped the meeting would display "the unity and resolve of the international community".

Washington and European powers believe Iran has ambitions of building a nuclear bomb, which they argue would destabilise the entire region.

Tehran vehemently denies the charge and says its nuclear program is purely peaceful.