Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

Iran replies to six-nation proposal    

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) -- The EU trio -- Britain, France and Germany -- had postponed a meeting with the United States to discuss Iran's response to the six-nation package of incentives aimed at resolving Tehran's disputed nuclear program, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

    The EU trio and the United States had considered to hold the meeting on Wednesday in New York to coordinate their stance on Iran's response. But foreign ministers from the European countries were still studying Iran's response, the report said, citing a senior U.S. official.

    The United States, in its first formal reaction to Iran's response, said on Wednesday that Iran's position "falls short" of the UN Security Council's demands.

    On June 1, the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany offered Iran a package of incentives in exchange for Tehran's suspension of its uranium enrichment.

    Iran's top nuclear negotiator ALi Larijani on Tuesday hand-delivered a written response to the package to the ambassadors from Europe, China and Russia, in which Tehran refused to suspend uranium enrichment, a key demand by the West.

    The United States has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programs. Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear programs are purely for peaceful purposes. Enditem