Iran's foreign minister says the country is preparing a new "package" of proposals to serve as a basis for talks with the West.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters in Tehran Saturday
that the package concerns political, economic and international issues.
His comments come a day after U.S. President Barack Obama said Iran has
until September to show a willingness to negotiate to end its
controversial nuclear activities, or it could face more international
sanctions.
Many in the international community accuse Iran of seeking to develop
nuclear weapons. Tehran says its program is for peaceful, civilian
purposes.
Mr. Obama also relayed a message from a summit in Italy of the Group of
Eight world leaders condemning Iran's crackdown on demonstrators
following the country's disputed election. He called the treatment of
protesters "appalling."
Demonstrations broke out after a June 12 election that reformist
candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi said was rigged. The Iranian government
says incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won by a landslide.