Iran's Foreign Minister Shrugs Off Nuclear Deadline | Voice of America - English
A top Iranian official, observing a South Asian regional leaders' summit, has dismissed a Saturday deadline to reply to an offer made by major powers concerning Tehran's nuclear program. VOA correspondent Steve Herman reports from the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo.
Iran'sforeign minister denies his country is facing any deadline to accept anincentives package in exchange for suspending uranium enrichmentactivities, or face additional sanctions. Manouchehr  Mottaki,speaking to reporters Saturday evening in the Sri Lankan capital, saysIran is still awaiting a response from world powers to a package Tehranproposed last month. The Iranian foreign minister says once bothpackages have been reviewed then there will be proper grounds forfurther discussion. The United States, Britain, China, France,Germany and Russia on July 19th asked Iran to respond to theirincentive package. The Russians have rejected the notion of a firmdeadline and it is unclear whether any of the others will now insistTehran give an immediate reply. Iran state television reportedFriday that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has vowed to use forceagainst what he calls "enemies" who want to curtail Tehran'scontroversial nuclear program. In Washington on Friday, Israel'sdeputy prime minister, Shaul Mofaz, warned that Iran continues toadvance towards a military nuclear capability. The Israeli urgedinfluential governments to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic. Iranian foreign minister Mottaki replied Saturday that Mofaz's assertions do not merit a response. Mottakisays Israel is a cancerous spot filled with its own problems andcomments from a state full of lies and corruption have no value. Mottakiis in Colombo as Iran's observer to the annual leader's summit of theSouth Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Officials from theUnited States and European Union are also attending the summit asobservers but it is unclear if they have had any interaction here withthe Iranian official. Western nations accuse Iran of enrichinguranium in order to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclearprogram is for peaceful purposes. The U.N. Security Council has imposed three sets of sanctions on Iran for defying international demands to suspend enrichment.