France has announced that six major powers will meet on Tuesday to discuss possible sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program.

France's foreign ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said senior diplomats from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany will meet in Paris. A European Union representative is expected to join the talks.

The major powers have been working for weeks on possible sanctions against Iran.

France, Germany and Britain have circulated a draft Security Council sanctions resolution. But Russia and China favor less stringent sanctions.

Iran defied an August 31 U.N. deadline for suspending its nuclear enrichment program. Tehran says it has a right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful uses.

The U.S. and its allies believe Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.