Iran Rejects Calls for Quick Nuke Answer

President Vladimir Putin attends a world summit of religious leaders in Moscow, Monday, July 3, 2006. The forum, which opened Monday in Moscow, brought together over 150 religious figures from more than 40 countries, the ITAR-Tass news agency reported. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko) (Alexander Zemlianichenko - AP)

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran rejected Russia's and China's calls for a quick response to incentives to suspend its nuclear program, indicating Tuesday that it wanted to negotiate the terms of the offer.

The exchange among the three allies came a day after diplomats said the U.S., Britain and France would revive a push to punish the Islamic republic with possible U.N. Security Council sanctions if it does not suspend uranium enrichment and agree to talks on its nuclear program by July 12.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would like talks on the incentive package to start before the July 15-17 summit of the eight wealthiest industrialized nations, but said he thought that was unlikely.

"We would really like our Iranian partners to accept the proposals," Putin said.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said Beijing hopes Iran will "respond to the package at an early date," adding: "The urgent task is to help resume the talks as soon as possible."

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki restated Iran's position that its response to the offer _ from the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany _ will come in mid-August.

"The August date announced by Iran was based on the necessity for a comprehensive and accurate study of the package and is unalterable," the official Islamic Republic News Agency quoted Mottaki as saying.

Mottaki indicated that Tehran hoped to negotiate the terms of the package before responding to demands that include an Iranian freeze of uranium enrichment during any negotiations.

"What can happen until that date (mid-August) is talks between Iran, the European Union and other countries that contributed in drawing up the package," he said.

The six countries that made the offer want Iran to freeze enrichment before any talks begin.

The United States, Britain and France are pushing Moscow and Beijing to support them on possible Security Council action _ including sanctions _ if Tehran refuses the package of incentives, which include nuclear expertise and hardware including reactors.

Russia's and China's ties to Iran and opposition to sanctions have hobbled attempts to create a common front in the standoff.