Six major powers said yesterday they would invite Iran for talks to seek a diplomatic solution to the dispute over its nuclear programme and, in a major shift, said the United States would join in future talks.

The United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain said in a statement they would ask European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to invite Tehran to a meeting to find "a diplomatic solution to this critical issue."

The statement said other members of the group, known as the E3+3, welcomed the new direction of US policy towards Iran and Washington's decision to "participate fully in the E3+3 process and join in any future meetings with representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran."

The US decision to join direct talks with Iran marks a major change in policy, reflecting new US President Barack Obama's push for a "new beginning" in ties with Tehran.

Senior US diplomat Williams Burns took part in the last nuclear talks with Iran in Geneva in July last year but then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said his attendance was a "one-shot deal".

The usual US policy has been not to talk to Iran about its nuclear programme until Tehran gives up uranium enrichment work the West believes is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, says its nuclear programme is only aimed at generating electricity.

"We strongly urge Iran to take advantage of this opportunity to engage seriously with all of us in a spirit of mutual respect," the six powers said after a meeting of senior diplomats in London.