Iran announced today that it would have a response to the West's incentive package to end uranium enrichment by August 22.
Speaking in the western Iranian city of Hamedan, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said, 'We will assess the proposals and, by God's will, by the end of (the Persian month of) Mordad we will announce our opinion.' The Persian month of Mordad ends on August 22.
The United States, China, Russia, France, Great Britain and Germany put together an incentive package for Iran that would offer trade, technology and improved relations in exchange for an end to Iran's program to enrich uranium.
The West accuses Tehran of using uranium enrichment to begin a nuclear weapons program. Iran, which is one of the leading oil exporters in the world, claims its program is only for peaceful purposes and is being used only for nuclear energy.
Thus far, Iran has claimed the incentive package is a step forward but is reserving the 'right' to enrich uranium.
Russia and China, traditional allies of Iran, have threatened to veto any sanctions against Tehran in the U.N. Security Council. Great Britain, the U.S. and France have been seeking sanctions and tougher U.N. resolutions against Tehran.
