Germany urges Iran action to resolve nuclear standoff (Roundup)

Jun 24, 2006, 17:27 GMT

Berlin - Iran refused to give way Saturday in its nuclear standoff with major powers, deflecting a call by Germany to halt its uranium enrichment activities.

With a six-nation proposal of incentives on the table for Iran, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after talks in Berlin with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki that Iran should stop enrichment 'very quickly.'

Mottaki broadly welcomed the plan by the five permanent UN Security Council members - United States, Russia, China, France and Britain - and Germany, but said further talks were required.

He gave no indication of when Iran might give its response, though he and Steinmeier indicated that Javier Solana, the European Union's top diplomat, would hold more nuclear talks with Iran next week.

The six nations want Iran suspend uranium enrichment efforts before talks on the incentives can begin. Their package aims to persuade Iran to curb its nuclear programme, which the West believes is geared to making a bomb.

Iran says the only goal is to generate civilian nuclear power.

The proposal has not been made public, but is believed to include economic incentives as well as help with civilian nuclear power. If Iran balks, it would risk sanctions by the UN Security Council.

The six powers have urged Iran to reply to the proposal by the Group of Eight summit in St Petersburg, Russia, which starts July 15.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said last week that his country would respond toward the end of the Persian month Mordad, which ends August 22.

Mottaki was even less specific, said only that Iran would respond when it had reviewed the six-nation package.

Mottaki visited Germany as part of a European tour and had asked to meet Steinmeier. His talks have included a meeting in Geneva with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who also urged Iran to resolve the standoff.