Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov yesterday reiterated Moscow's call on Tehran to give a positive answer to an international package of incentives aimed at ending the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

Russia hoped Tehran would confirm it is positive about the proposals and is prepared to talk on the issue, Lavrov said on Russian television before a meeting Tuesday between Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

"We hope this meeting will bring us a positive signal from Tehran and reaffirm what President Ahmadinejad (of Iran) told President Putin (of Russia) when they met in Shanghai in mid-June," Lavrov said. Ahmadinejad said then Iran sees the offer positively.

The international nuclear package, which was presented to Iranian leaders by Solana on June 6, was designed to lure Iran to the suspension of uranium enrichment in return for political and economic incentives and nuclear technological assistance.

Representatives of the six countries which have crafted the package for Iran -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States will meet in Paris on Wednesday. Solana is due to attend the meeting.

Western countries have asked Tehran to respond prior to this weekend's Group of Eight summit in St. Petersburg.