Iran agrees to nuclear talks

Tehran, Iran -- Iran's top nuclear negotiator said Tuesday that Tehran was ready to enter "serious negotiations" over its disputed nuclear program but did not say whether it was willing to suspend uranium enrichment -- the West's key demand.\nThe negotiator, Ali Larijani, hand-delivered Iran's response to a six-nation package of nuclear incentives aimed at persuading it to suspend enrichment. He gave the reply to ambassadors from Britain, China, Russia, France, Germany and Switzerland, state-run television said, without disclosing details.\n"Iran is prepared as of Aug. 23 to enter serious negotiations" with the countries that proposed the package, state-run television quoted Larijani as telling the envoys.\nIranian officials close to the meeting said Iran offered a "new formula" to resolve the dispute as part of its formal response to the incentive package. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.\n"Iran has provided a comprehensive response to everything said in the Western package. In addition, Iran, in its formal response, has asked some questions to be answered," one official said, without elaborating.\nEU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Iran's response needs a "detailed and careful analysis."\nIn a statement, Solana said he would remain "in open contact" with Larijani.\nThe European response was likely to depend on how far Tehran was ready to go in suspending uranium enrichment -- the cornerstone demand of the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, the six powers that agreed to the package of incentives if Iran compromises and punishments if it does not.\nAt U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the United States is prepared to quickly submit elements of a new Security Council resolution that would impose economic sanctions on Iran if it does not accept "the very, very generous offer" from the five permanent council members and Germany.\n"We will obviously study the Iranian response carefully, but we are also prepared if it does not meet the terms set by the permanent five foreign ministers to proceed here in the Security Council, as ministers have agreed, with economic sanctions," he said.\n"If, on the other hand, the Iranians have chosen the path of cooperation, as we've said repeatedly, then a different relationship with the United States and the rest of the world is now possible," he said.\nIran says it wants to master the technology to generate nuclear power. But critics say it is actually interested in enrichment because it can also be used to make the fissile core of nuclear weapons.\nState-run television said Iran's response meant Tehran was committed to its promises.\n"Iran's response suggests Iran is committed to dialogue and its promises. ... It is in contrast with America's policy of unilateralism," state-run television said.\nThe six powers -- five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany -- offered Iran the package in June.