Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis
BEIJING, Aug. 23 -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator says Tehran is ready to
enter serious negotiations over its disputed nuclear program. But Ali Larijani
did not say whether Tehran was willing to suspend uranium enrichment -- the key
Western demand. US and EU officials said they would study Iran's response, with
the US threatening to seek sanctions against Iran if it's deemed unsatisfactory.
Meeting with ambassadors from Britain, China, Russia, France, Germany and
Switzerland, Iran's top negotiator hand-delivered his government's response to a
Western incentives package aimed at getting Tehran to roll back its nuclear
programme.
Switzerland looks after US interests in Iran, given the US has not had
diplomatic relations with the country.
State television quoted Larijani as telling the envoys, that Iran is
prepared to enter serious negotiations with the countries that proposed the
package.
No further details were released on Iran's response.
EU officials declined to offer any immediate reaction, saying they needed
to study the Iranian offer.
The United States said it would study the Iranian response but was prepared
to move forward with sanctions against Tehran if its response was viewed as "not
positive".
"Iran has a choice. They can either take up the very generous offer that
the five permanent members and Germany have extended to them, and if they do
there's a possibility of a different relationship with the United States and
others. But if they don't, we've also made it clear that their unwillingness to
give up the pursuit of nuclear weapons will result in our efforts in the
Security Council to obtain economic sanctions against them."
The incentives package was first drawn up by the five permanent members of
the UN Security Council, along with Germany, in June.
The US and some of its Western allies accuse Iran of planning to use its
nuclear programme to build nuclear weapons.
Tehran has denied the charges, saying its program is merely aimed at
generating electricity.
(Source: CCTV.com)
Related: Iran offers new formula in nuclear response
TEHRAN, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani on Tuesday issued an official reply to a six-nation package of proposals aimed at resolving the disputed nuclear issue.
Larijani submitted Iran's formal response to the envoys from China, Russia, France, Germany, Britain and Switzerland.
Switzerland is representing the United States since Washington has no diplomatic relations with Iran.
No details concerning the response was available now, but officials close to the meeting disclosed that the response had offered a "new formula" to resolve the disputed nuclear issue.
