U.S. sees progress, no final agreement on Iran package

As Reuters information agency reports, McCormack was commenting on progress at talks in London among senior officials from the U.N. Security Council permanent members -- China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain -- plus Germany.

He also told a news briefing that Iran recently has sought bilateral talks with Washington, but said the administration will stick with the multilateral approach aimed at persuading Tehran to abandon what the United States and some Western nations suspect is a nuclear weapons program.

The Islamic Republic says it is developing nuclear technology for civilian energy generation.

"What I've heard is that there has been great progress" on the Iran package under discussion, McCormack said.

But it is "not done yet" and after participating countries mull over the London results in their capitals there probably will be follow-on meetings in the next week or so, he added.

McCormack confirmed that Iran recently has passed word through diplomatic channels of an interest in direct talks with the United States.

He added "it's probably just an effort to change the subject, because they're feeling the pressure of the international community" on the nuclear issue.

The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Iran was making explicit requests for direct talks on its nuclear program.