Iran's foreign minister says there is a "new atmosphere" in its talks
with six world powers about the nation's controversial nuclear program.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Wednesday there have been
"constructive developments" in the talks. He was speaking on a visit to
the United Nations in New York.
Mottaki said Iran will respond "very soon" to an incentives package
proposed by the six powers in hopes of encouraging Tehran to suspend
uranium enrichment. Iran recently offered the world powers its own plan
to resolve the nuclear dispute and other global problems.
Mottaki said the presentation of the two packages represents a "new
process" that could lead to, in his words, a "multi-faceted" solution.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana says he will wait for
Iran's formal response to the incentives package before commenting on
the Iranian statements.
Solana traveled to Iran in June to present the offer on behalf of the six powers (Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain and the United States).
Iranian officials have previously said they are willing to negotiate
details of the incentives package, but they refuse to stop enriching
uranium.
Speaking at the White House, U.S. President George Bush said diplomacy
is the first option to address Iran's nuclear program, but he repeated
that all options are on the table.
The United States and its allies accuse Iran of working to develop a
nuclear weapon. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.