SAINT PETERSBURG: Iran should respond directly to the negotiators involved in a six-nation nuclear energy offer if Tehran wants to discuss the proposal, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday.
Tehran said earlier in the day that the package - drafted by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany - was an "acceptable basis" for talks, and invited world powers for detailed negotiations over its disputed nuclear programme. The response comes four days after Tehran missed a July 12 deadline to respond to the offer, prompting the six powers that drafted the proposal to decide to refer Iran to the Security Council for possible punishment.
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