June 18, 2006

Forked Tongue

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From FoxNews: Iran Studying Nuclear Incentives Package, Will Likely Offer Changes.

Iran's foreign minister said Saturday the government likely would suggest amendments to a Western package of incentives meant to persuade the Islamic republic to give up its uranium enrichment program.

Manouchehr Mottaki would not give any timing for Iran's response. The Tehran regime previously has said some parts of the package were acceptable while others needed to be changed, and the central issue of uranium enrichment needed clarification.

"It is a step forward," he said.

Mottaki said Iran would come up with its own amendments to the package.

"In the end, we will present our proposals. It's a two-way street," he told reporters at a joint news conference with Iraqi politician Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, who heads that country's largest Shiite party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Mottaki's remarks echoed comments made Friday by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"Generally speaking, we're regarding this offer as a step forward and I have instructed my colleagues to carefully consider it," Ahmadinejad said after meeting Chinese President Hu Jintao in Shanghai.

Iran denies accusations by the United States and others that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, saying its program would only generate energy.

Posted by Forkum at June 18, 2006 10:41 AM
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