Iran has not responded to a package of incentives proposed by six major powers on Tuesday, although western countries have warned Iran of further sanctions.
A senior Iranian security official has rejected reports suggesting that Tehran has responded to the Group 5+1 nuclear incentives package.
"What was handed over to EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana was a written transcription of the discussions he had with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili over the telephone yesterday, not a response to the (Group) 5+1 package of proposals," an official at the Supreme National Security Council told Iran's official IRNA news agency.
Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency earlier Tuesday reported that Iranian Ambassador to Brussels Ali-Asghar Khaji handed in Tehran's written response to the 5+1 package of incentives to EU officials.
The report did not give further details about Iran's reply.
On mid June, Solana handed over to Iran a package of incentives proposed by six major powers -- Britain, China, Germany, France, Russia and the United States requiring the country to suspend its nuclear enrichment program in exchange for political and economic benefits.
Ali-Asghar Khaji delivered a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Solana on July 4, which did not mention nuclear suspension.
Solana and Jalili held nuclear talks in Geneva on July 19. In the meeting, Iran still gave no clear answer to the package of incentives, though western diplomats said the country was asked to make a response within two weeks.
Iran rejected the two-week deadline for response to the package, and did not give any answer by the Saturday deadline.
On Monday, Jalili and Solana called for "positive air" over Tehran's nuclear issue in a telephone conversation and agreed to continue talks over Iran's nuclear issue.
The West then expected Iran to deliver a written response to the incentives package on Tuesday, saying that if no positive response is delivered by Tehran, there will be no choice but to ask the UN to proceed with further sanctions.
The United States and its allies have accused Iran of developing nuclear weapons, but Iran insists that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Iran till now has been under three UN sanctions over its disputed nuclear program.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article