Tehran, August 5
Iran delivered a message to the EU today as it faced a fresh ultimatum from six global powers to accept an incentive package to freeze sensitive nuclear work or face more UN sanctions.

But Iran insisted the message delivered to EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was not a response to the latest offer drawn up by the major powers to end the five-year crisis over Tehran’s nuclear drive.

“The message delivered today is not Iran’s response to the six countries,” a source with the Supreme National Security Council said on condition of anonymity, without elaborating.

The Western warnings of fresh sanctions came as Iran declared that it could block the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial Gulf waterway through which much of the world’s oil supplies passed.

Britain had warned that the lack of a positive answer from Tehran by today would leave the powers with “no choice” but to ask the UN Security Council to take further punitive measures.

The new deadline was set after Iran ignored a previous demand to respond by last weekend to the package being offered by the permanent Security Council members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — and Germany.

The United States and its allies fear the programme is a cover for developing nuclear weapons, a claim vehemently denied by Tehran, which insists its aim is to generate electricity for its growing population. — AFP