The United States reacted cautiously Monday to a new promise by Iran to halt enrichment of uranium, stressing promises must be implemented.

"We are making clear, this needs to be more than promises. Thisneeds to be promises made and promises implemented," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told a briefing here.

Iran announced earlier in the day that it will begin a suspension of uranium enrichment-related activities as of Nov. 22 in accordance to an agreement signed with European Union trio, namely Britain, France and Germany.

Secretary of State Colin Powell described the Iranian letter tothe International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna as "a little bit of progress, hopefully."

However, Boucher told the news briefing that US officials wouldexamine the agreement with the three European countries before taking a more definitive position.

"It bears a certain degree of scrutiny by all of us, the Europeans first and us with them, as well, to make sure that Iran is really making firm commitments that can be verified," the spokesman added.

The US, which accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of an atomic energy program, wants Iran reported to the UN Security Council for hiding its enrichment program for 18 years.

Iran, categorically denied the American accusations, insisted that its nuclear program is for civil purposes.

Source: Xinhua