Iran sets nuclear offer deadline

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Iran says the three European states which are trying to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear programme must submit their proposals by Monday. An Iranian government spokesman said a European request for the date to be put back had been rejected.

But diplomats from the UK, France and Germany say they never promised to have the proposals ready by 1 August. Iran has repeatedly said that it will resume some of its nuclear activities regardless of EU proposals. Tehran insists its programme is purely for non-military aims.

'Expectations'
The Europeans have been trying to put together a package of measures which they hope will persuade Iran to make concessions over its plan to resume uranium enrichment activities. Uranium enrichment can be used to fuel nuclear power stations, but can also provide material for nuclear weapons.

The spokesman for the Supreme National Security Council told journalists that Europe formally asked for an extension until 7 August to hand over its nuclear proposals. "We reject any delay. We are expecting their proposals to be submitted on 1 August and it should meet Iran's minimum expectations," Ali Agha Mohammadi said. However, the Europeans deny that they asked for a delay and say the only time frame they ever gave was late July or early August.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4731853.stm