Advanced Search
Business | Metro | Nation | World | Sports | Features | Specials | Delta Stories
 
 
Six nations to consider next step on Iran if necessary: report
4/7/2006 10:18

If Iran still has no response to the six-nation package proposal until July 12, the foreign ministers of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States will meet to discuss the next step to be taken on the Iranian nuclear issue, a diplomat in Vienna said on Monday.

If Iran impresses on Javier Solana, the senior EU envoy on diplomacy and security affairs, that it just wants to delay, on Wednesday when Solana meets with top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, the foreign ministers of six nations will consult on the next step on Iran's nuclear issue, reported the Austria Press Agency (APA) citing a diplomat in Vienna.

In the same report, APA said that Western powers consider July 12 as the deadline for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and rebuild the negotiations with the European Union.

"Otherwise Iran may have to face the threat of sanction from the UN Security Council," said the report.

Seyed Ali Hosseini-Tash, deputy secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, reiterated on Monday that Iran will not give up its right to the peaceful use of nuclear power.

"The coming talks between Larijani and Solana aims to discuss the six-nation package, and clarify the unclear contents," he said.

He stressed that Iran needs time to study the package seriously, and that Solana as well as other sides should not expect a response from Iran.

"We do not need to make response (to the package)", he said.

Solana presented the six-nation package to Iran on June 6, which includes incentive and punitive measures.

The foreign ministers of the Group of Eight issued a declaration in Moscow on June 29, urging Iran to deliver an official response at the coming meeting with Solana. But Iran said that it would have no response before August.



Xinhua News