Friday, May 26 2006 10:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Washington: Foreign ministers from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States will meet in a European capital at the end of next week to discuss the Iran nuclear dispute, the US State Department said yesterday (May 25, 2006).

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said a meeting of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, plus Germany, was likely in Europe at the end of next week.

Top officials from the six nations met in London yesterday to discuss what action to take against Iran, which has been accused by Washington and its allies of secretly moving toward making a nuclear bomb.

Britain, France and Germany have prepared a package of incentives to try to persuade Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment programme. The United States and its allies are also pushing for a UN Security Council resolution which could eventually call for sanctions. China and Russia oppose talk of sanctions.

McCormack said top officials from the six nations would hold telephone talks on the dispute on Tuesday.

US officials have said progress was made at the London talks but McCormack would not say what differences remain to be overcome.