Russia tells Iran to stop enrichment during talks

Moscow: World powers have proposed Iran cease uranium enrichment during international talks with Tehran on its nuclear programme, Interfax news agency quoted Russia's foreign minister as saying on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, speaking after his return from a London meeting of major powers on Iran, said uranium enrichment would have to be suspended for the talks.

"It is not an ultimatum, it is a proposal," Lavrov said

Major powers agreed on Friday to make a new offer of incentives to Iran to halt its sensitive nuclear work, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said.

Miliband said he hoped Iran would recognise the sincerity of the offer and respond in a timely manner. Details of the offer were not made public. Tehran has so far spurned incentives to suspend enrichment.