iran gives cautious welcome to nuclear offer

Iran gives cautious welcome to nuclear offer
DAVID RISING IN BERLIN

IRANIAN foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said yesterday that Iran saw "positive points" but also had "questions" about a package of incentives offered to Tehran in a bid to persuade it to give up enriching uranium.

Mottaki made the remarks after talks with his German counterpart, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, on efforts to resolve the standoff over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"We had constructive talks," Mottaki said. "The offer package is at the moment being reviewed by Iran."

"We see positive points in the package and parallel to that there are also things that are unclear and we will have questions about that."

Steinmeier warned that the two sides "are at a decisive phase: either the conflict goes on or we seize the chance and the way to comprehensive cooperation with Iran".

He added that he expected an answer from Iran "as soon as possible".

The offer by the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany seeks to persuade Iran to suspend uranium enrichment in return for incentives including a US offer to provide Iran with peaceful nuclear technology, lift some sanctions and join in direct negotiations with Tehran.

The US and its allies suspect that Iran's nuclear enrichment activities are a cover for a weapons programme. Iran insists its nuclear programme is limited to peaceful energy uses.

Enrichment can produce fissile material for a warhead or fuel for a nuclear reactor.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country will take until mid-August to respond to the proposal. US President, George Bush, has accused Iran of dragging its feet.

Mottaki did not elaborate further on the timeline during the news conference, where no questions were allowed, saying only that "immediately after the review of this offer we will let our European partners know".

During the discussions, Mottaki and Steinmeier agreed that Iran would meet again with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana to go over the offer. Steinmeier said he expected the first meeting "in the next week".

In response to Steinmeier's assertion that Iran risked isolation if it did not return to the negotiation table, Mottaki suggested Tehran had the support of Muslim nations and therefore there will be "no isolation for the Islamic Republic of Iran".

This article: http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=927772006

Last updated: 25-Jun-06 01:00 BST