Britain confirms meeting of world powers on Iran

LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) Senior officials from the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany will meet in London on Wednesday to discuss the next steps on Iran's disputed nuclear programme, a British official confirmed today.

The meeting of political directors was postponed last week to allow the European Union trio more time to prepare a package of incentives aimed at getting Tehran to freeze a uranium enrichment programme the West says could be used to make atomic bombs.

Tehran says it needs the nuclear technology for power stations.

''The meeting is on Wednesday,'' said a foreign ministry spokesman who declined to give further details.

Despite divisions, officials from the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany will try to agree on what action to take next with Iran.

The EU trio is working on a plan of incentives which could include an offer of a light-water reactor but Iran last week ruled out halting its sensitive nuclear work even in return for incentives.

U S Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice yesterday said the European powers had not asked Washington to provide Iran with security guarantees although some diplomats say the EU trio want some kind of security framework to make it more difficult for Tehran to turn down.

Europe may still find a formula that allows for some security pledge to Iran despite Washington's reluctance to give a guarantee of its own.

The United States says it wants to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff with Iran but has also refused to rule out military action.

REUTERS PG BST1902