Iran has until July to consider atomic offer-Austria

BERLIN, June 9 (Reuters) Iran has until the Group of Eight (G8) summit in mid-July to consider an offer of incentives to suspend its nuclear enrichment programme, Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel was quoted as saying today.

Asked what would happen if Iran did not accept the offer, Schuessel, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: ''This will be discussed within the framework of the G8. Iran has until the world economic summit in July to think it over.'' These comments from Schuessel represent the first clear deadline for Iran to respond to the offer, which was prepared by Germany, France and Britain and is backed by the EU, United States, Russia and China.

REUTERS SHR VV1726