KAMPALA—Iran said on Thursday it was ready to negotiate over a new package of economic incentives put forward by major powers seeking to persuade Tehran to curb its nuclear work.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference in the Ugandan capital Kampala that the six–the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany–should also take a serious look at Tehran's own proposals.
"We have informed them of our readiness to negotiate. The package given by the P5+1 countries is currently under consideration and at the appropriate time Teheran will give its reactions," Mottaki said.
After handing over the offers to Iran on Saturday, EU policy chief Javier Solana reaffirmed the six powers wanted Iran to suspend enrichment during talks on the offer–a precondition the Islamic Republic has repeatedly rejected.
Iran said it was ready to review the proposals, but Tehran seems in no hurry to respond.
"We also have what we call the Iranian package which we have sent to the P5+1 countries and we hope they consider it as we consider theirs," added Mottaki, in Uganda for a meeting of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference.
A senior Iranian nuclear official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters on Tuesday Iran's answer would not be a straight yes-or-no answer, adding that it would be a "discussable response".
An Iranian official said on Thursday time was on Iran's side.
Won't Give in to Bullying
Reuters
TEHRAN—Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday accused a six-nation group of world powers of bullying Tehran over its nuclear programme and said their efforts would end in disgrace.
"The bullying powers have used their capabilities to break the nation's will to obtain nuclear technology ... in our view Iran's nuclear case is closed," Ahmadinejad told clerics in the holy Shi'ite city of Qom.
"Recently, they have started a new game ... the result of this game will be disgrace for them," the president said, five days after European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana handed over a package of incentives aimed at persuading Iran to halt uranium enrichment.
"We will review the package but not the part about enrichment freeze ... We are moving forward with our work and Iran's nuclear capability is being constantly augmented," said the official, involved in talks with Solana.
More Sanctions
The U.N. Security Council has hit Iran with three rounds of sanctions for refusing to halt its enrichment work, as demanded by the council.
Western powers have warned Iran it would face more sanctions if it spurns the offer.
As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran insists it has the right to master the complete nuclear fuel cycle, including uranium enrichment, for peaceful purposes. It says it wants nuclear power only to generate electricity.
Mottaki said the United States should stop lecturing Iran on its nuclear ambitions. Tehran and Washington cut diplomatic ties shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.
The incentives package offers Iran the chance to develop a civilian nuclear programme with light water reactors–seen as harder to divert into bomb-making than the technology Tehran is now developing–and legally binding fuel supply guarantees.
It also offers trade and other benefits, including the possibility of Iran buying civil aircraft from the West.
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