"We are examining the proposals and hopefully we will give them our opinion in mid-August," Ahmadinejad said in a speech to a large crowd in western Iran.

He renewed Iran's rejection to any preconditions for nuclear negotiations, implicitly rejecting demands that the Islamic republic suspend sensitive uranium enrichment work. "We want peace and calm with all countries, we would negotiate with them, but the negotiation should be equal and no preconditions are imposed."

"We must use our clear and legal rights. Our nation has achieved full nuclear fuel technology with its hands," the hardline president asserted.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on June 6 presented to Iran a new package endorsed by the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany in a foreign ministerial meeting in Vienna on June 1.

The package offered Iran incentives and fresh talks on its controversial nuclear program if it suspends uranium enrichment, but also threatened with sanctions if Iran chooses not to comply. Western countries have repeatedly asked Iran to give a positive response to the proposal by the end of June.

U.S. President George W. Bush warned on Monday that Tehran must accept the package or face UN sanctions.

Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is intended to make fuel for nuclear power plant instead of seeking nuclear weapons.