Iran says it is ready to negotiate a new international package ofincentives aimed at persuading Tehran to halt its disputed nuclearprogram.
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki during avisit to Uganda Thursday said the package put forward by six majorworld powers is currently under consideration. He said Iran hasinformed the six nations, Russia, China, France, Germany, Britain andthe United States, of its readiness to negotiate, and will respond tothe package at "an appropriate time."
European Union foreignpolicy chief Javier Solana presented the package of economic and tradeincentives to Iranian officials Saturday.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said they will not accept a package that requires Iran to stop uranium enrichment.
Separatelytoday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused people whom hecalled Iran's "enemies" of planning to kidnap and assassinate himduring his visit to Iraq earlier this year. He did not elaborate orsay how Tehran learned of the alleged plot.
Iranian leaders have used the term "enemies" in the past to refer to Western nations and the United States in particular.
Statemedia quoted the Iranian leader as saying the plot was never carriedout because of a change in his schedule. There has been no commentfrom U.S. officials on the alleged plot.
State media also quotedMr. Ahmadinejad today as accusing Western powers of bullying Tehran. Media reports said Mr. Ahmadinejad told clerics in a speech in the cityof Qom today that the West will face humiliation in its latest effortto prevent Iran from developing its nuclear program.
The UnitedStates and its allies accuse Iran of working to develop a nuclearweapon. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.
Iran is under three sets of limited United Nations Security Council sanctions for defying demands to stop enriching uranium.