Offer negotiable if Iran halts enrichment

Iran must halt enrichment work under an incentive package to end its nuclear dispute with the West, Germany said yesterday, and it would then find the door open to negotiations on other terms of the offer.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana delivered the offer to Tehran on Tuesday, with a delegation of senior officials from the "EU3" - France, Britain and Germany - and from Russia. Iran said it saw some positive aspects.

"This is an offer to kick off negotiations but there must first be a suspension of (enrichment) activities implemented by Iran," Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters before a meeting with Mr Solana.

"It is a broad and comprehensive offer. I believe it is a huge chance and I hope that we'll do a bit of negotiating."

The proposals, which have not been made public but include incentives and penalties, seek to persuade Iran to give up enriching uranium, which many countries fear will be used to build atomic bombs. Tehran says its nuclear aims are peaceful.

Mr Solana said in an interview appearing in today's Tagespiegel newspaper that what Iran had received were "elements of a proposal which are the basis for later negotiations".

"The package enables Iran to have civilian nuclear energy and access to technology, and it offers economic incentives, above all in the energy sector," Mr Solana was quoted as saying.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, said the offer contained positive elements but there were ambiguities that needed to be corrected.

Ms Merkel urged the Iranians to consider the offer seriously, which she said was an opportunity to secure a peaceful resolution to the long nuclear stand-off with Iran.

"I believe that it is a truly significant chance to resolve this conflict diplomatically.

And everyone should be aware of his responsibility in this context," she said.