AFP: Britain’s UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry on Friday dismissed as “inadequate” Iran’s response to an international offer of energy and security incentives in exchange for a freeze of its uranium enrichment activities. UNITED NATIONS, Aug 25, 2006 (AFP) – Britain’s UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry on Friday dismissed as “inadequate” Iran’s response to an international offer of energy and security incentives in exchange for a freeze of its uranium enrichment activities.
“Our capitals are working on our response to the inadequate response we’ve received from Iran,” he told reporters.
“We need to give a measured consideration to what has been sent to us by Iran, but quite clearly something which is short of what the Council is looking for,” he added.
Iran on Tuesday called for talks but did not heed the Security Council demand that it halt sensitive nuclear fuel work after giving a written response to the deal put forward by the five permanent United Nations Security Council members plus Germany to end a long-running nuclear standoff.
France and Germany meanwhile said Friday Iran’s response lacked crucial details, and urged Tehran to seize the opportunity to resolve the crisis.
The leaders of the two countries made their comments as France said “technical contacts” could take place with Iran in the coming days in a bid to clarify some aspects of its response.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Iran’s response lacked “important elements” but that the door remained open.
Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, Merkel said Tehran had to grasp the package of incentives it was being offered in return for suspending uranium enrichment.
But Ahmad Khatami, one of the Islamic republic’s religious leaders, reiterated Friday that Tehran was ready for unconditional talks over its nuclear program but rejected the West’s “language of force” over the issue.
Iran is suspected by the West of trying to build nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian nuclear power program.
Tehran has consistently rejected this suspicion and has insisted it has the right to its own nuclear power program.
