Iran Rejects Deadline to Curb Nuclear Program
Just before the Saturday (Aug. 2) deadline set by an international body calling for the Islamic Republic of Iran to curb its nuclear program, Iran has issued a response in the form of its own proposal: more talks.[1]
The answer follows a July 19 meeting in Geneva at which the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany, led by European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, gave Iran two weeks to stop enriching uranium in exchange for a package of incentives.
The incentives included providing Iran numerous political and trade benefits and as much nuclear energy as it needs for civilian uses. [2] In return, Iran would agree not to enlarge its uranium enrichment program for six weeks while it held talks about dismantling its nuclear program.[3]
But in an article published today (Thursday) by the government-run Fars News Agency, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran rejected both the deadline and the concept of a deadline. (more…)
