US says Iran taking negotiating stance

WASHINGTON, June 2 (Reuters) The White House said today that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was staking out ''negotiating positions'' by refusing to abandon the pursuit of nuclear technology before seeing a US-backed package of incentives.

White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters European officials were expected this weekend to give Iran a full presentation of the package worked out by major world powers in Vienna yesterday.

Asked about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's statement that pressure on Iran to give up a right to nuclear technology would not work, Snow said: ''This is a negotiation, and I would expect they will try to take some negotiating positions, but I also think it's safe to say that the Iranians are going to take a careful look at this.'' Rather than get into a standoff on the issue, the US position is to look for a ''happy ending'' to the Iranian nuclear issue, he said.

REUTERS SRS RAI2340