Washington, which has frowned on the incentives offered by Britain, France and Germany, would not comment on the European offer or whether Iran would accept it and said it was interested only in whether Tehran would meet its obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"The important thing about the meeting is what the Iranians say now ... as to whether or not, yes or no, they are going to comply with the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency board of directors," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

"That's what we'll be looking for," he told reporters. "I don't know if it'll come today. I don't know if will come tomorrow. Unfortunately, history would lead us to think that the answer's going to be no."

His comments followed a meeting in Vienna on Thursday between officials from Britain, France and Germany -- the so-called "EU3" -- and Iran at which the Europeans offered valuable nuclear technology if Tehran indefinitely suspends all uranium enrichment activities and proves it is not secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.

The EU3 package -- which also includes the provision of a light-water reactor if Iran complies with the request -- threatens possible UN sanctions if Iran does not comply.

An Iranian official said after the meeting that Tehran would study the European proposal and respond in the coming days.

But on Wednesday, Iran vowed not to give up on producing enriched uranium, the process used to make fuel for civilian atomic energy reactors but also the explosive core of nuclear weapons.

The United States wants the IAEA, which since February 2003 has been investigating Iran on US claims that the Islamic Republic has a covert nuclear weapons program, to send Iran before the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

Washington has said it will push the IAEA governing board to refer the matter to the Security Council at its next meeting on November 25 if Iran has not agreed to the agency's demands.

Boucher reiterated that stance on Thursday, saying that it was up to Iran to provide the right answer if it wants to avoid such a referral.

"If it's not a yes, and it's not a yes by November, then clearly we'll be facing a situation in the board where everybody knows that Iran has failed to comply and (they) should be referred further to the UN Security Council," he said.

"That's the question. The question is on the Iranian side."

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