. | . |
White House remains skeptical over Iran
Washington (AFP) July 2, 2008 The White House said Wednesday it was skeptical about top Iranian officials' comments welcoming a US-backed reward package aimed at ending the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program. "If they were serious about wanting to take us up on that offer, then that would be welcome. But I think we have every reason to be skeptical since we get mixed messages from them quite often," said spokeswoman Dana Perino. "The best way for us to respond to it is to say that we'll see," she said. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told US journalists Tuesday that Tehran was "seriously and carefully examining" the incentives package and would respond formally in the next "couple of weeks," the Washington Post said. "We believe that talks are a good foundation for continuing our conversation in this field," the Post quoted him as saying, calling the diplomatic efforts by six major powers a "constructive" approach. According to the state-run IRNA news agency, Mottaki told US reporters in New York that "a process is underway and it started with the package delivered by Iran." "This package presented tackled important questions and then on the other side the world powers offered their own package," he said. Six world powers last month presented Iran with a proposal aimed at ending the crisis which offers technological incentives in exchange for Tehran suspending uranium enrichment, which can be a key step to make an atomic bomb. Tehran denies that its program hides a nuclear weapons quest. US President George W. Bush has said that he has not ruled out using force against Iran. The Islamic republic has put forward its own package, a more all-embracing effort to solve global problems and notably suggests the setting up of a consortium in Iran for enriching uranium. According to IRNA, Mottaki was asked about the question of suspending uranium enrichment. But he did not give any direct comment on the subject. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Share This Article With Planet Earth
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Iran warns about attack, refers to nuclear 'solution' Madrid (AFP) July 2, 2008 Iran warned Wednesday of a fierce response and radically higher oil prices if the country were attacked, but also signaled possible progress in its five-year nuclear standoff with the West. |
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2007 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement |