Iran hands EU's Solana nuclear offer response - report

By Hashem Kalantari

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran responded on Friday to an incentives package offered by six world powers aimed at resolving a standoff over the Islamic Republic's disputed nuclear ambitions, the official IRNA news agency said.

The agency quoted a senior source at Iran's Supreme National Security Council as saying Tehran's reply was submitted to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, but did not give any details about its content.

There was no immediate confirmation from Solana's office in Brussels that Iran's response had been delivered.

The offer of economic and other incentives proposed by the United States, China, Russia, Germany, Britain and France was presented to Iran by Solana last month to try to persuade it to halt work they fear is aimed at making nuclear bombs.

Iran has said it is willing to enter talks about the package but has repeatedly rejected demands to halt uranium enrichment, which can have both civilian and military uses.

The dispute over its nuclear programme has sparked fears of a military confrontation and contributed to oil prices rising to record highs on global markets.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran's response to Solana and the (six powers') foreign ministers was submitted to Solana by Iran's ambassador to Brussels," the source told IRNA, adding it was signed by Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

State radio earlier said Saeed Jalili, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, talked to Solana by telephone and that the two agreed to hold more talks later this month.