.bmp)
.bmp)
LONDON-World powers negotiating with Iran have agreed on a repackaged offer of incentives to try to coax the Islamic regime into rolling back its disputed nuclear program, Britain's foreign secretary said Friday. However, the details of the amended offer being made by the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany were not revealed."We've got an agreement on an offer that will be made to the government of Iran," Foreign Secretary David Miliband said following a meeting of the group at Britain's Foreign Office.
The group has previously promised to enhance the package of political, security and economic incentives they put on the table in June 2006 if Iran suspends its enrichment of uranium, which critics say could feed a covert nuclear weapons program.It was not clear whether the current offer sweetens the deal or merely makes clear that the same basic economic and political inducements remain an option if it wants to begin bargaining.Miliband called the new offer an update, but did not say whether the offer contains any new enticements. A Western diplomatic source later said the offer contains nothing new.Iran had effectively rejected the previous offer before any bargaining began. The offer contained a precondition-that Iran suspend the enrichment of uranium-that the regime said was insulting.Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that precondition would remain part of any repackaged offer, and she doubted that Iran would accept.Miliband said he hoped for a response "in a timely manner," but set no deadline and did not say what the group would do if Iran rejected the package or failed to respond.The incentives offered in 2006 included an offer by the United States to provide Iran with peaceful nuclear technology, lift some sanctions and conduct direct negotiations with Tehran.Though Iran said it saw some good in the proposal, it has continued enrichment.The United States, the European Union, Israel and others suspect Iran of using its atomic energy program as a cover for the production of nuclear weapons. Iran says it only wants to produce nuclear energy.Meanwhile, dozens of opponents of the Iranian regime demonstrated Friday near the Foreign Office, holding pictures of opposition leaders and demanding tough action against the Iranian government.
As in the days of Noah...
