UNITED NATIONS — The Iranian government said Tuesday that it is ready to respond to an incentives package that the United States and five other world powers have offered in exchange for suspension of its uranium-enrichment program. But Iran insisted that the big powers “simultaneously” provide a more detailed explanation of the offer, a formula that may lead to drawn-out talks.
Iran’s position was outlined in a statement its chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, sent Tuesday to European Union foreign-policy chief Javier Solana. The statement, a copy of which was obtained by The Washington Post, said “such mutual clarification can pave the way for a speedy and transparent negotiating process with a bright prospect.”
“The Republic of Iran is ready to provide a ‘clear response’ to your proposal at the earliest possibility, while simultaneously expecting to receive your ‘clear response’ to our questions and ambiguities as well,” the statement said. “The second phase of negotiations can commence as early as possible, if there is such willingness.”
The Iranian response fell short of demands by the U.S., Britain and France that Tehran immediately accept the offer or face new sanctions. U.S. and European officials characterized Tehran’s reaction as evasive.
“It’s a stalling tactic, reiterating that they have goodwill but not answering the exam question,” said one European official.
But the official suggested that Iran’s response — which seemed to favor further negotiations — was probably positive enough to complicate Western efforts to secure U.N. support for a new sanctions resolution.
“To be fair to the Iranians, they do this kind of thing rather well,” the official said.
The U.N. Security Council has been pressing Iran since March 2006 to suspend its enrichment of uranium and begin talks over the future of its nuclear program. It already has imposed three rounds of sanctions against Iran for failing to do so.
Iran insists that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and that the 15-nation council has no right to prevent it from enriching uranium for an energy program. It has approved a visit Thursday by a senior International Atomic Energy Agency official, Olli Heinonen, who monitors Iran’s nuclear program, according to Reuters news agency.
