Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks with journalists while attending an official meeting in Tehran June 29, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TEHRAN, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki Sunday said his country is reviewing a package of incentives by six world powers with a constructive view, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    "Iran will give an answer to the package after examining it," Mottaki told reporters after the inaugural ceremony of the 17th session of Iran-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission in Tehran.

    On June 14, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana handed the offer of incentives to the Iranian authorities on behalf of UN Security Council permanent members -- France, Britain, Russia, China and the United States -- plus Germany (Group 5+1) in a bid to persuade Iran to halt uranium enrichment.

    Iran also presented its own package of proposals, which is aimed to help resolve regional and international problems, including Iran's nuclear issue.

    Mottaki said the Group 5+1 member states have, in turn, studied Iran's package of proposals with a positive view, adding that he hopes the exchange of the two packages would pave the way for more progressive talks in the future.

    Earlier on Sunday, Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said that Iran is studying the incentives package by Group 5+1 and it will respond to it in due time.

    "We are examining the package, so when we conclude the studies, it will be the time for reply," IRNA quoted Aghazadeh as saying.

    The United States and its Western allies fear that Tehran is trying to build nuclear weapons. Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Iranian president: sanctions not to stop Iran's nuclear progress

    TEHRAN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday that hegemonic powers cannot impede the country's accomplishments in nuclear technology, Iran's Press TV satellite channel reported.

    The enemies have not been able to prevent Iran from moving forward in nuclear technology, Ahmadinejad said in Iran's western province of Kermanshah.  Full story

Iran parliament speaker warns the West over nuclear program

    TEHRAN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani warned here on Thursday that the West will suffer if it continues to speak with Iran in the language of force, saying that pressuring Iran is a mistake, Iran's Press TV satellite channel reported.

    Speaking at a commemoration ceremony for the martyrs in a bombing, Larijani accused the western powers of practicing "cruel methods" to curb Iran's technological advancement by unjustly taking advantage of nuclear and human rights issues. Full story

Top U.S. military official to discuss with Israel Iran nuclear issue

    WASHINGTON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Michael Mullen, was expected to visit Israel to discuss topics including Iran nuclear issue, the defense department said on Wednesday. Full story

U.S. says it tries to solve Iran's nuclear issue through diplomacy

    WASHINGTON, June 25 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush believes the Iran's nuclear issue can be solved diplomatically, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said Wednesday.

    "What I can tell you is President Bush believes that we can solve this issue diplomatically, and that everyone's preference is to solve it diplomatically, not just in the United States, but with our allies and certainly with Israel," Perino said at the daily briefing.  Full story

Larijani warns West not to provoke Iran

    TEHRAN, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said on Wednesday the West should seriously heed IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei's warnings and prevent provoking Iran, the Press TV satellite channel reported.

    "There is little chance for interaction. You have reached the final minutes of your defeated game," Larijani rhetorically addressed Western powers during a Majlis open session in Tehran on Wednesday.   Full story

EU to pursue "duel strategy" on Iran, says Solana

    GENEVA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- The European Union will continue to pursue a "duel strategy" of negotiations and sanctions on Iran's nuclear activity, the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana said here on Wednesday. 

    "With Iran, we have a dual strategy: on the one hand negotiations ... and at the same time action through the United Nations," Solana told reporters after addressing a disarmament conference in Geneva.  Full story

Iran to withdraw money from EU in response to sanctions

    VIENNA, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Mahdi Safari has said Iran would withdraw money from European Union (EU) countries and invest in other regions in response to EU sanctions against Iran.

    In an interview published by the Austrian newspaper "Die Presse" Wednesday, Safari pointed out that the EU's sanctions against Iran would lead to serious consequences, namely Iran withdrawing money from EU countries. Full story

Iran says Israel not in position to threaten Iran

    TEHRAN, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said on Monday that the Zionist regime is not in a position to make threats against Iran.

    Israel has not enough capacity to threaten Iran, Hosseini told reporters at his weekly press conference.  Full story