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UK keeps E3's N-offer to Iran under wraps

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, June 2, IRNA
UK-Iran Offer
The British Foreign Office Friday remained reluctant to discuss the extent of Iran nuclear proposals agreed at a meeting in Vienna of foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany.

After chairing Thursday's meeting, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said that they had agreed "a set of far reaching proposals as a basis for discussion with Iran."
"We urge Iran to take the positive path and to consider seriously our substantive proposals which would bring significant benefits to Iran," Beckett said.

But diplomats in London refused to comment on either details of the package or the process being worked out to present the offer to Iran.

One source told IRNA that the UK wanted to act "very cautiously" and would "not be blabbering to the wires" about the proposals, which were only agreed after the US declared that it was prepared to join any future negotiations with Iran over its nuclear programme.

The Vienna meeting came after a series of deadlocks in discussions over extending a package of offers drawn up last year by the UK, France and Germany, which was immediately rejected by Iran.

Several political commentators suggested at the time that it would be difficult, if not impossible, for the EU to deliver any proposals unless it was supported by the US.

Before the sudden announcement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday, the press reports said that differences in the US administration were hindering any breakthrough.

"Opposition by US 'hawks' led by Dick Cheney, the vice-president, is complicating efforts by the main European powers to put together a package of incentives," the Financial Times reported last week.

Beckett also previously admitted to parliament that there had been "a great deal of discussion about whether it is possible to offer a substantial package of incentives" for Iran.

Speculation is that one of the major stumbling blocks was over the need to offer Iran security guarantees to address its legitimate concerns.

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