Special report: Iran Nuclear
Crisis
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A soldier launches a missile during a war game in Sistan-o Balouchestan province, southeast of Tehran, August 21, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran
will give its response to a nuclear package backed by six nations to their
ambassadors in Tehran at 4 p.m. (1230 GMT) on Tuesday.
"The formal response will be presented to ambassadors
of six world powers at around 4 p.m (1230 GMT)," said media sources.
Iran has promised to give an official response by
Tuesday to the package of proposals, which have been agreed on by the United
States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany.
Since the United States has no diplomatic relations
with Iran, the Swiss ambassador, who's embassy takes care of U.S. interestsin
Iran, will represent the United States to join the other five ambassadors to
receive the Iranian response, according to the sources.
Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany all have
ambassadors in the Iranian capital Tehran.
On June 6, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana
presented Iran with the package agreed on by the five permanent members of the
UN Security Council plus Germany concerning the Iranian nuclear issue.
The package, designed to defuse the current tensions
over Iran's nuclear program, includes both incentives aimed at persuading Iran
to suspend uranium enrichment and possible sanctions if Iran does not comply.
On Monday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali
Khamenei said that Iran would continue its nuclear energy work and Deputy
Director of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Sa'eedi also said that
suspension of uranium enrichment was "practically impossible" even though the UN
Security Council has made such ademand.
The Security Council has recently adopted a
resolution urging Tehran to suspend by Aug. 31 all enrichment-related and
reprocessing activities, including research and development, or face the
prospect of sanctions.
The U.S. has accused Iran of secretly developing
nuclear weapons under a civilian front, a charge categorically denied by Tehran
which says that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
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