Major powers look at new ways to coax Iran

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senior diplomats from six major powers meeting in London on Wednesday will discuss ways to entice Iran to give up sensitive nuclear work, a U.S. official and diplomats said on Tuesday.

Permanent U.N. Security Council members Britain, the United States, France, China, Russia as well as a senior official from Germany will mull a range of incentives to change Iran's behaviour and get the Iranians back to talks, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"We are trying to bring Iran back to the (negotiating) table," the U.S. official added. "It may be repackaging of old ideas but there are some ideas we may be able to present."

A Western diplomat, who also asked not to be named, said additional sanctions also would likely be discussed although Russia and China have balked at further punitive measures against Iran.

The London meeting follows President Barack Obama's talks with foreign leaders in Europe in which he shared early results from an ongoing U.S. policy review towards Iran.

Obama, said one diplomat, made clear he would break from the Bush administration's isolation policy of Iran and that Washington wanted a full role in any future negotiations by the six major powers with Tehran on its nuclear program.

The hope is that full U.S. participation in such talks would encourage Iran to take them more seriously.

In a rare departure last year, the Bush administration's point person on Iran -- William Burns -- sat in for the first time on a meeting with major powers to hear Iran's response to an incentives package offered to give up its enrichment.