By NNN-KUNA,
Washington : The United States said that the Iran did not provide a definitive answer to the incentives proposal and affirmed that no separate talks occurred between US and Iranian officials in Geneva.
“We hope the Iranian people understand that their leaders need to make a choice between cooperation, which would bring benefits to all, and confrontation, which can only led to further isolation”, said State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack on Saturday.
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Bill Burns joined earlierSaturday EU Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana and the “P5 1” group to hear response to the incentives proposal delivered by Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili.
“Mr. Solana did not get a straight “yes” or “no” answer. Mr. Solana stressed that Iran needs to give a clear answer within two weeks”, he added.
McCormack said that the P5 1 made it clear to the Iranians “that our proposal was serious and an opportunity for them to engage with the international community”.
“When his turn to speak arose, Ambassador Burns delivered a clear simple message: the United States is serious in its support for the package Mr. Solana conveyed in Tehran last month, the United States is serious in its support of P5 1 unity, and the United States with its P5 1 partners are serious that Iran must suspend uranium enrichment to have negotiations involving the United States”, said McCormack.
“We believe our action today strengthened the position of the P5 1 and its commitment to pursue further disincentives should Iran not choose the path of cooperation”, he noted.
McCormack affirmed that “Burns did not meet or speak with separately any member of the Iranian delegation”.