Iran Calls Western Incentives Acceptable

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, delivers a speech during a public gathering in his visit to the city of Hamedan 200 miles (340 kilometers), southwest of the capital Tehran, Iran, in this Wednesday, June 21, 2006 file photo. _ Iran said Sunday July 16, 2006 that a Western incentives package aimed at persuading Tehran to stop enriching uranium was an "acceptable basis" for talks, and invited world powers to enter detailed negotiations over its disputed nuclear program. (AP Photo) (AP)

After more than a month of waiting for Iran to respond, the six nations are unlikely to accept anything other than an unconditional "yes" to an enrichment halt before talks on the package begin.

Diplomats have said recent meetings with Iran have gone nowhere, and that it appeared Tehran hoped to buy time or exploit potential divisions among the six powers, and wiggle out of having to freeze enrichment.

The package includes economic incentives and a provision for the United States to offer Iran some nuclear technology, lift some sanctions and join direct negotiations. The proposal also calls for Iran to impose a long-term moratorium on uranium enrichment _ which can produce civilian reactor fuel or fissile bomb material.

The United States and some of its allies accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons. Tehran has denied the charges, saying its program is aimed at making electricity, not bombs.

Iran has said it will never give up its right under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty to enrich uranium and produce nuclear fuel, but has indicated it may temporarily suspend large-scale activities to ease tensions.

Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev, the Kremlin-linked chairman of the international affairs committee of the lower house of parliament, greeted Tehran's announcement with guarded optimism.

"On the one hand we must hail any readiness by Tehran at least to discuss the proposals of the six nations," he told The Associated Press. "Unfortunately, we have already witnessed such signals in the past, which then were not followed up."

He suspected Iran of "dragging its feet" to avoid unnecessary concessions.

"Iran is playing with fire," he warned. "The international community may one day run out of patience and unfortunately, the point of view of those who call for maybe a tougher stance on Iran may prevail. Iran must clearly understand that."

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Associated Press writer George Jahn in Vienna, Austria contributed to this report.