Iran Urges West to See "Positive" Signs

This Aug. 12, 2006 IKONOS satellite image provided by GeoEye on Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006 purports to show the Natanz nuclear facility in Iran. Iran's unprecedented refusal to allow access to its underground facility at Natanz could seriously hamper U.N. attempts to ensure Tehran is not trying to produce nuclear weapons, and might violate the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, diplomats and U.N. officials told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/IKONOS satellite image ourtesy of GeoEye/WIA) (AP)

The dispute over Tehran's nuclear program revolves around Iran's insistence that it wants to master the technology simply to generate electricity. But critics say Iran is interested in enrichment because it wants to make nuclear weapons.

Diplomats at the United Nations said the United States, Britain, France and Germany were consulting Wednesday from their capitals.

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said "the door is still open" for negotiations but only if Iran suspends uranium enrichment first. German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said the demand to halt enrichment indicated "that Iran clearly has lost the confidence of the international community that its nuclear program is civilian."

But Moscow and Beijing appeared receptive toward further talks. Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would continue to seek a negotiated solution, and China appealed for dialogue, urging "constructive measures" by Iran and patience from the U.S. and its allies.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said talk of sanctions was "premature" before the Aug. 31 deadline set by the Security Council for Iran to halt uranium enrichment or face the risk of economic and political sanctions.

"The Russian side has started studying the Iranian reply along with its partners in the sextet," Kamynin said in a statement.

"Russia will continue with its course of searching for a political solution ... and will continue to seek to preserve the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency and prevent the erosion of the nonproliferation regime."

Last month, a senior Iranian lawmaker said parliament was preparing to debate withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty if the Security Council adopts a resolution to force Tehran to suspend enrichment.

Iran delivered the written proposal in response to a package of incentives offered in June by the five permanent Security Council members and Germany to persuade Iran to halt enrichment _ and the threat of punishments if it does not.

Last month, the Security Council set the Aug. 31 deadline for Iran to halt enrichment or face economic and political sanctions. Iran called the resolution "illegal" but had said it was willing to offer a "multifaceted response" to the incentives package.

The Western incentives package has not been made public but some details have leaked. They include an offer to lift a ban on sales of Boeing passenger aircraft as well as providing Iran with some nuclear technology to build reactors for peaceful purposes.

The drama is playing out amid concerns in the West that the ability of the pro-Iranian Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon to shower northern Israel with rockets despite 34 days of bombardment this summer has emboldened hard-liners in Tehran to risk a showdown with the Americans.

In London, a leading British think-tank said Iran has established itself as Washington's chief rival in the Middle East and now wields more influence in Iraq than the Americans do.

The report by Chatham House said the ease with which Iran now operates in the Middle East has "severely compromised" America's ability to confront Iran.

"While the U.S. has been playing poker in the region, Iran has been playing chess," said Nadim Shehadi, a report contributor. "Iran is playing a longer, more clever game and has been far more successful at winning hearts and minds."