Six key world powers agreed Friday to make a new offer to Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, in a bid to ease the West's long-running stand-off with Tehran.

"We have got agreement on an offer that will be made to the government of Iran," British Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced, after discussions with counterparts from China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

In a brief statement, host Miliband explained that the powers had "reviewed and updated" an offer made to Iran in June 2006, but that the contents of the new proposal would only be disclosed to the Islamic republic.

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The six have been using a twin-track, carrot-and-stick approach of incentives mixed with sanctions.

Miliband said: "We will be transmitting that offer, we won't be revealing details except to the government of Iran and we very much hope that they will recognise the seriousness and the severity with which we have approached this issue and that they will respond in a timely manner to the suggestions we are making."

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany have been seeking to persuade Iran to rein in its nuclear work.

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