World powers to discuss Iran issue

The United States says high-ranking diplomats from six world powers will discuss ways to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said envoys from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany will hold a meeting to "discuss the way forward”.

The meeting will be held in Washington on Friday, State Department officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said.

McCormack said the meeting will precede one that the US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will hold with her counterparts from the five countries in New York next week on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The six world powers have offered a so-called package of incentives to Tehran which is aimed at persuading Tehran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.

Tehran has repeatedly declared that it will not review any offer that calls for suspension of its rightful nuclear enrichment work.

As a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Iran is entitled to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.PressTV