Iran Urges Patience As It Considers Deal

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, shakes hands with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul at the start of their meeting, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 25, 2006. (AP Photo) (Vahid Salemi - AP)

Iran has said it will not give up enrichment but indicated it may temporarily suspend large-scale activities to ease tensions.

Asefi said dialogue was the only way to deal with Iran's nuclear program, but he rejected the precondition that Iran halt uranium enrichment before talks start.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, suggested Turkey could be a "good bridge" to resolve differences between Iran and the West.

Larijani suggested Turkey play a mediating role after meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul on Sunday.

"Deliberations with friends helps this path, especially friends that are close to both parties," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Larijani as saying. "These negotiations and deliberations can be a good bridge to resolve this."

Gul's trip to Iran came ahead of a visit to the U.S. early next month.

Germany and Iran's foreign ministers said Saturday that they agreed that Iran would meet again with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana to go over the incentive offer. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said he expected the first meeting "in the next week."

Iran is the world's fourth-largest oil exporter and the second-largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The Islamic republic exports about 2.5 million barrels a day.

The oil minister's sharp comments marked the second time in a month that Iran threatened to disrupt the world's oil supply if Tehran is punished over its nuclear program.

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also has said the United States and its allies would be unable to secure oil shipments passing out of the Persian Gulf through the strategic Strait of Hormuz to the world markets.