US: Iran's response to a package of incentives it has been offered in return for halting its nuclear programme falls short of what was demanded by a UN Security Council resolution, the US said yesterday. But Washington did not reject the response outright and said it would review it.
In the first US response to Iran's reply to the offer, the White House said the US was consulting closely with other council members over what steps to take.
"We acknowledge that Iran considers its response as a serious offer and we will review it," said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino. "The response, however, falls short of the conditions set by the security council, which require the full and verifiable suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities."
Iran handed over its formal response on Tuesday to a nuclear incentives offer from the major powers and said that it contained ideas which would allow serious talks about its standoff with the west to begin immediately. But Tehran gave no sign of heeding a key security council demand that it freeze uranium enrichment by August 31st or face the prospect of sanctions.
France said earlier that world powers were ready to take up Iran's call for talks, but only if it first suspended uranium enrichment. The five permanent council members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany offered Iran economic and other incentives to stop enrichment. So far, they have not given their verdict on Iran's reply.
Analysts say that Iran's answer, described by diplomats as complex and nuanced, was probably designed to create divisions between council members Russia and China, both key trade partners of Tehran, and the US, Britain and France, which have backed tougher sanctions.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said yesterday that secretary general Kofi Annan plans to visit Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Iran in the coming days but could not say if he would would be in Iran before the August 31st deadline.