(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-27 19:19

BRUSSELS - Major powers are discussing possible new moves to draw Iran into negotiations over its nuclear program while still pushing for more UN sanctions, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana confirmed on Wednesday.

Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili speaks with journalists during a news conference in Tehran February 22, 2008. [Agencies]

"It's been a debate of the political directors of the six countries," Solana told Reuters on the margins of a conference in Brussels, when asked about the possibility of new steps involving incentives to Tehran.

He was referring to the five major powers of the UN Security Council -- the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain -- plus Germany.

"Lots of things have been discussed but (there is) nothing specifically to be made public now," added Solana, the official who for months has been leading fruitless efforts to draw Iran into formal negotiations on suspending uranium enrichment.

The West suspects Iran of pursuing the atom bomb, while Tehran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

Political directors from the six countries leading diplomacy over Iran met in Washington on Monday to discuss how to tweak their strategy and agreed to move ahead soon on a third round of UN Security Council sanctions.

US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said no new incentives were being considered but rather the political directors were examining how a 2006 incentives offer could be presented in a way Iran would find attractive.

The 2006 offer included talks with the United States on any subject if Tehran suspended uranium enrichment; airline parts for civilian planes and dropping objections to entry to the World Trade Organization.