Iran has delivered a letter to world powers but again failed to give concrete answers to a demand to freeze its nuclear activities. The United States promptly said the Iranian response amounted to "obfuscation" and could lead to more sanctions. Iran handed the letter to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in response to an offer made in June by six major powers that stated that they would refrain from pursuing further UN sanctions if Iran suspended its nuclear program. Extracts of the one-page letter obtained by the Reuters news agency said: "Iran is ready to provide a 'clear response' to your proposal at the earliest possibility, while simultaneously expecting to receive your 'clear response' to our questions and ambiguities as well. Such mutual clarification can pave the way for a speedy and transparent negotiating process with bright prospect."
An unnamed US official called the Iranian response was "more of the same - obfuscation and delays" and added that this "was not the type of response the international community was looking for." US State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos warned of "additional measures" against Iran and said the United States would hold a conference call with other senior officials from China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain on Wednesday when the major powers would decide how to proceed.
An Iranian official told Reuters the letter was not meant to address the demands by world powers. ,"The letter handed over is not an answer to the offered package. The letter does not mention the freeze-for-freeze issue," the official was quoted as saying.
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