The United States has criticized Iran's president for his response to a European incentives package intended to encourage Tehran to end its sensitive nuclear work.
A State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's reaction to the pending offer is an odd stance that raises questions about his motives in the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Ahmadinejad ridiculed the idea and said Iran would not stop enriching uranium.
Britain, France and Germany are drawing up a package of trade and technological incentives for Iran, including a light-water nuclear power plant.
Senior diplomats from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany are expected to meet in London next week to discuss the incentives package. That meeting was originally scheduled for this Friday.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated Russia's opposition to the threat of sanctions or the use of force to compel Iran's compliance with Western demands. But he also said Iran should respond constructively to Western proposals aimed at ending the stand-off.
Western powers suspect Iran is enriching uranium to make nuclear weapons -- a charge Tehran denies.
A State Department spokesman, Sean McCormack says President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's reaction to the pending offer is an odd stance that raises questions about his motives in the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr. Ahmadinejad ridiculed the idea and said Iran would not stop enriching uranium.
Britain, France and Germany are drawing up a package of trade and technological incentives for Iran, including a light-water nuclear power plant.
Senior diplomats from the five permanent U.N. Security Council members and Germany are expected to meet in London next week to discuss the incentives package. That meeting was originally scheduled for this Friday.
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated Russia's opposition to the threat of sanctions or the use of force to compel Iran's compliance with Western demands. But he also said Iran should respond constructively to Western proposals aimed at ending the stand-off.
Western powers suspect Iran is enriching uranium to make nuclear weapons -- a charge Tehran denies.