Iran rejects nuclear offer
2008-06-14 18:06
Tehran - Top EU diplomat Javier Solana handed Iran an offer by six major powers of trade and other benefits on Saturday to try to coax it into halting sensitive nuclear work, but Tehran again ruled out any such suspension.
The United States and its European allies have warned the
Islamic Republic of more sanctions if it presses ahead with a
nuclear programme they fear is aimed at making bombs.
The world's fourth-largest crude producer is refusing to
stop activities it says are for generating electricity.
"Iran's view is clear: any precondition is unacceptable,"
government spokesperson Gholamhossein Elham said when asked about
the package of incentives offered by the United States, China,
Russia, France, Britain and Germany.
"If the package includes suspension it is not debatable at
all," he told reporters.
Bush 'disappointed'
Although Iran has not officially rejected the offer, US
President George W Bush said he was disappointed when asked
about Elham's statement during a visit to Paris.
"I am disappointed that the Iranian leaders rejected this
generous offer out of hand," Bush told a joint news conference
with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, adding it was a sign that
Iran's leadership was willing to isolate its people further.
The offer, including civilian nuclear co-operation, is a
revised version of one rejected by Iran two years ago and
diplomats have played down any hopes of a breakthrough in a
dispute that has helped push up oil prices to record highs.
- Reuters