U.S. declines to help present nuclear deal to Iran

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - World powers will in the coming days offer a revised package of incentives to Iran but Washington has refused to send its own envoy to help present the deal, diplomats and a U.S. official said on Thursday.

Diplomats said the package, aimed at getting Iran to halt its nuclear work, could be delivered on Friday or over the weekend, most likely in Tehran, by the European Union's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana.

In a change from normal protocol, political directors from France, Britain, Russia and China -- permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- and Germany would probably go with Solana, diplomats said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But the United States, which is involved with major powers in the negotiations, has made clear it will not join the mission to present the offer, which is expected to be given to Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

"We are not going to be going to Tehran. But, again, we're still working out some of the details with our partners in the process," said State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, when asked whether the United States would also deliver the deal.

The other major powers have argued that sending political directors from nations that deal with the Iranian nuclear file would add weight to the offer. Usually, Solana acts as the official go-between with Tehran.

But McCormack said the United States had made it very clear it would only sit down in talks with the Iranians over their nuclear program if Tehran gave up uranium enrichment.

In Brussels, Solana's spokeswoman said she had no comment on Iran. A European Union diplomat said a "number of issues remained to be resolved" over how best to make contact with Iran.