AFP: The United States on Wednesday called for "punitive" measures against Iran over its reponse to the international offer to persuade it to freeze its nuclear programme.

Reuters: Major powers have agreed to seek new sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, but informal contact between the European Union and Iran will go on, Britain said on Wednesday.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 06 – Recent comments by senior officials in Tehran show a hardening of Iran’s attitude in the face of domestic and international pressures, according to some Iran analysts.

New York Times: The Bush administration said Tuesday that Iran’s response to an offer of incentives by six world powers seeking to rein in Tehran’s nuclear ambitions was unacceptable, and American and European officials said their next step would be to go back to the United Nations Security Council to seek additional punitive sanctions.

Washington Post : The Iranian government said Tuesday that it is ready to respond to an incentives package that the United States and five other world powers have offered in exchange for suspension of its uranium-enrichment program. But Iran insisted that the big powers "simultaneously" provide a more detailed explanation of the offer, a formula that may lead to drawn-out talks.

CNN: Iran's response to the international community's offer of incentives in return for cutbacks in its nuclear program is not acceptable, two senior U.S. officials told CNN Tuesday.