LONDON — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said yesterday that a U.S. attack on Iran was "simply not on the agenda" for now in the showdown over Tehran's suspected nuclear-weapons program and other issues.

In her first overseas trip as secretary of state, Rice met with British and German leaders to discuss Iran's nuclear ambitions and human-rights record, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the recent elections in Iraq.

She is scheduled to visit Poland and Turkey today before heading to the Middle East for talks on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

At a news conference in London with the British foreign secretary, Jack Straw, Rice said an attack on sites where Iran is suspected to be developing nuclear weapons is "simply not on the agenda," but she also indicated U.S. options remain open.

Rice also deflected a question about potential Israeli military action against Iran, instead placing the blame for any regional instability at Tehran's doorstep. "The point is that the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon is deeply destabilizing," she said.

Iran has long contended it is being unfairly singled out for international scrutiny while Israel has gone unpunished for its secret nuclear-weapons program.

Straw and Rice acknowledged sharp differences remain between Europe and the United States, particularly concerning the efforts of France, Germany and Britain to reduce tensions with Iran and to use economic incentives to solve the nuclear controversy. European leaders have said progress has been hampered because of bellicose language from Washington.

Later yesterday, Rice flew to Berlin, where she met with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. She appeared to make progress in repairing the policy chasm created over the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, with Schroeder offering to increase Germany's role in training Iraqi security forces in the United Arab Emirates.

Schroeder also said Germany could help Iraq build the institutions of its new government, which is to be formed this month.

The atmosphere during Rice's talks in Berlin was in stark contrast to tensions two years ago with Germany, France and Russia over using force to remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. At the time, Rice was widely quoted as urging a policy to "forgive Russia, ignore Germany and punish France."

Material from the Los Angeles Times is included in this report.