"The discussions will broach the European Union's relations with Iran, bilateral relations as well as recent negotiations in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear programme," Luxembourg, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, said in a statement.

Kharazi will be accompanied by deputy foreign minister Hamid Reza Asefi.

Iran on Sunday rejected a European offer under which it would give up construction of a heavy-water reactor, which can be used to make nuclear weapons material, in exchange for a light-water reactor offered by the Europeans.

Britain, France and Germany are trying to convince Iran to dismantle an enrichment programme the United States says is part of a covert atomic weapons development, in return for economic and political rewards.

New US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice last week urged European negotiators to take a tough line with Iran and warned Tehran of sanctions if it refuses to renounce its suspected nuclear weapons programme.

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