By Daisy Ayliffe - 10th July 2006
Iran will not provide an immediate response to the package of EU incentives to encourage Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment.
Last month EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana offered Tehran a package of technology, economic and political sweeteners.
His package includes a state-of-the-art nuclear reactor with a guaranteed fuel supply, economic benefits and other incentives if Iran halts uranium enrichment.
Solana said he hoped for a “substantive response” this week.
But following the second round of talks with Solana in five days, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani called for greater patience.
“We have expressed our view regarding the deadline. We are not used to acting before thinking,” he told reporters.
“We discussed a wide range of important issues today and consultations must be made on both sides. We must be patient and do everything precisely.”
The US accuses Tehran of secretly working to build nuclear weapons and has demanded a clear Iranian response before next weekend's G8 summit.
Washington says Tehran could face UN security council sanctions if it fails to meet the deadline.
Diplomats say that with Russia and China - both veto-holders on the security council - wary about imposing sanctions, there is little pressure on Iran to produce an early reply to Solana’s offer.
But speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, Russia's Ambassador to EU Vladimir Chizhov piled the pressure on Tehran to come up with a swift response.
“We look forward to having an answer from Iran, the sooner the better,” he said.
“When one talks about sanctions one should have a view of further steps. You need a long term view of several options and contingencies.”
Iran has said it will reply to Solana’s proposals in late August.
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