Despite Chinese reluctance to impose further sanctions on Iran, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Thursday major powers were united about putting more pressure on Iran over its nuclear program.

Diplomats from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States met in New York on Saturday to discuss the Iranian nuclear program, but China made clear it opposed more punitive action for now.

The West suspects that Iran''s nuclear program is a cover for developing atomic weapons. Iran has said the program is to generate power so it can export more of its oil and gas.

"We are unified in our resolve to work toward pressure on Iran in the face of their continuing rejection of the overtures by the international community," Clinton said at a news conference, calling Saturday''s meeting a "productive step."

Earlier this month China argued in public that now was not the right time to place further sanctions on Iran and it sent only a low level official to attend Saturday''s meeting while the other powers sent senior foreign ministry officials.