Western powers suspect Iran's nuclear ambitions are not peaceful

Iran requested the meeting with envoys from Britain, France and Germany.

Foreign ministers from the EU-3 will also discuss the issue at separate talks in London with their counterparts from the US, Russia and China.

On Thursday, the UN nuclear watchdog is due to hold urgent talks and could refer Iran to the UN Security Council.

The EU and the US want Iran to be referred to the council for possible sanctions after Tehran restarted its nuclear programme.

They suspect that Iran is aiming to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Washington, many European powers and also Israel distrust Iran, partly because it had kept its nuclear research secret for 18 years before it was revealed in 2002.

Intense diplomacy

A British spokesman said the three European nations would listen to what Tehran had to say in Brussels, the BBC's Clare Doyle says.

Mr Straw is insistent that diplomacy is the way to resolve the crisis

But the spokesman said Europe's position remained unchanged - it was time for the UN Security Council to become involved.

Later on Monday, foreign ministers from Britain, France, Germany, Russia, China and the US are expected to try to co-ordinate their position on the issue at the talks in London.

Moscow and Beijing have argued for Iran to be given more time, but neither has completely ruled out having the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) refer Iran to the UN Security Council - which can impose sanctions.

Iranian officials had previously said they had nothing to fear from such a move and that sanctions would hurt the West more than Iran, our correspondent says.

'Softer' line

But she says there now seem to be signs that Tehran could be preparing to compromise.

Officials there have taken a much softer line recently on Russia's proposal to enrich uranium on its territory for use in Iran's nuclear programme, our correspondent says.

On Saturday, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said talks aimed at resolving the dispute must allow Iran to maintain its national dignity.

"We must have a bargain which enables both sides to come out of it with their head held high," Mr Straw said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mr Straw has repeatedly said that the crisis must be resolved through diplomatic, not military, means.

However, Republican US Senator John McCain, also attending the World Economic Forum, said that the threat of military action should be retained in case all else fails.