Saturday, June 17, 2006

Tehran to give "transparent" answer

Stanislav Khamdokhov, RIA Novosti:
Tehran will give an "absolutely transparent" answer to the Iran Six's package of proposals to settle the crisis around the Iranian nuclear program, the country's foreign minister said Saturday. READ MORE

The foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany and France approved at a Vienna meeting June 1 a package of proposals that envisioned Iran suspending work to enrich uranium.

"Iran's reply to Europe's package of proposals, as well as the process of uranium enrichment [in Iran], will be absolutely transparent," Manouchehr Mottaki told journalists.

Mottaki also said Tehran was assessing these proposals "as a step forward."

The Iranian foreign minister said Iran would closely consider these proposals and then submit its proposals for the Europeans' consideration.

After the June 1 meeting, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the proposals embraced three spheres - Iran's nuclear program, economic and trade cooperation with Tehran and security guarantees.