New York Times: Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Monday that his nation would continue to pursue its nuclear program “forcefully.” The remarks came one day before Iran’s self-imposed deadline for responding to an international package of incentives intended to persuade the nation to voluntarily stop enriching uranium.

Iran says it plans to respond Tuesday to a Western incentives package presented in June to encourage Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment. The package has not been made public, but some of the incentives have been leaked including:

– Lifting some U.S. bilateral sanctions, including a ban on sales of Boeing passenger aircraft and related parts.

– Receiving some nuclear technology to help build nuclear reactors for civilian energy purposes.

– Receiving a guaranteed supply of nuclear fuel.

The United States and its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop atomic weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear program is intended only to produce power, and Iranian leaders say they will not be pressured into stopping the program. The U.N. Security Council has given Iran until Aug. 31 to suspend enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions. (Associated Press)

AFP: France said Monday it hoped Iran would seize an offer for economic and nuclear cooperation in exchange for an end to its nuclear programme.

Reuters: Oil rose to almost $72 a barrel on Monday as Iran vowed to pursue its nuclear program, inviting possible sanctions against the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter.

Reuters: Iran will not suspend uranium enrichment, the main demand in a nuclear package backed by six world powers, the deputy head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation said on Monday.

AFP: UN Secretary General Kofi Annan appealed Sunday for Iran to reply positively to a package of incentives offered by major powers in return for a freeze in uranium enrichment.