Iran to Begin Talks on Incentives Next Week

Iran’s chief negotiator met the European Union’s foreign policy chief here Thursday but offered no response to proposals aimed at defusing a standoff over its nuclear program.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, told reporters he would give a preliminary response next week to a package of economic, technological and political incentives designed to persuade Tehran to halt uranium enrichment.

“We are serious about continuing negotiations and will start next Tuesday with talks,” he told reporters. He and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana plan to meet again next week.

The five permanent, veto-wielding U.N. Security Council members -- the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China -- plus Germany have offered Iran a state-of-the-art nuclear reactor with a guaranteed fuel supply, economic benefits and support for the idea of a regional security framework if it halts uranium enrichment.

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei earlier warned Iran that the world was running out of patience.

“The Iranian counterpart authorities told me that they need some time to provide the response,” ElBaradei told reporters in Ankara, Turkey, after talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

“I think they need to make sure that everybody in Iran is on board. But by saying that, I hope that Iran also understands that the international community is getting somewhat impatient. The earlier they can provide an answer is better for everybody.”

The United States has accused Iran of having a secret program to build nuclear weapons. Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, denies the charge and says its nuclear program is solely for power generation.

Major powers have said they want a reply before the July 15 summit of the Group of 8 industrialized nations in St. Petersburg, Russia. Tehran says it will not respond before Aug. 22.