U.S. wants Iran answer by July 12

Reuters: The United States would like Iran to respond by July 12 to a U.S.-backed offer of incentives aimed at containing Iran’s nuclear program, the White House said on Wednesday. WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States would like Iran to respond by July 12 to a U.S.-backed offer of incentives aimed at containing Iran’s nuclear program, the White House said on Wednesday.

“We have made it clear … that we expect an answer by the 12th before the G8 summit begins,” said White House spokesman Tony Snow, referring to the Group of Eight summit that Russia is hosting in St. Petersburg.

White House officials had hoped to hear from Iran on Wednesday but a meeting between European chief negotiator Javier Solana and Iran’s top nuclear envoy, Ali Larijani, was postponed for a day.

Iran postponed the talks in apparent anger at an exiled opposition leader’s visit to the European Parliament.

“As a consequence they (the Iranians) wanted to postpone, and that’s all there is to it,” Snow said.

President George W. Bush departs on July 12 on a trip to Germany and to attend the G8 summit.