Yekaterinenburg, Russia  - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the six UN nations negotiating with Tehran over its nuclear programme should offer Iran security guarantees.

"I think the six could take the following step: firmly place concrete offers on the negotiating table, guaranteeing Iran's security and ensuring it a more prominent position in negotiations in Middle East talks," Lavrov was quoted by Itar-tass as saying.

Lavrov was meeting with his German and Chinese counterparts Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Yang Jeichi in the Russian Urals city of Yekaterinburg.

The three UN Security Council members not represented at the meeting were the United States, Britain and France, who together make up the six negotiating with Tehran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.

Lavrov expressed doubt Wednesday that other members of the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany were ready to provide Iran with security guarantees, but stressed: "I am convinced that this is an effective way to remove the tension in the region and resolve the problems surrounding Iran's nuclear programme."

Other Security Council members have viewed with suspicion Russia's aid in building Iran's first nuclear power plant in Bushehr, fearing that the civilian programme is a cover for the Islamic state's ambition to build atomic weapons. (dpa)