Iran response to nuclear offer soon-Russia formin

MOSCOW, June 13 (Reuters) Tehran will give its response ''soon'' to a package from major powers designed to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium, Interfax news agency quoted Russia's foreign minister today.

But Sergei Lavrov did not give a more precise timetable.

''We still expect that Iran will study these proposals in the near future and will give its reply soon,'' Interfax quoted Lavrov as saying.

Iran says its nuclear fuel drive is intended to make electricity.

The West suspects a disguised atom bomb project.

The United States has said that Iran has ''weeks not months'' to respond to the US-backed offer aimed at containing Tehran's nuclear ambitions and insists that it must suspend uranium enrichment.

In the latest initiative to resolve the dispute, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, plus Germany, handed Iran a package of incentives including sweeteners on trade and technology.

Western diplomats say they hope to get word from Iran on whether it will accept the package by the time heads of state from the Group of Eight countries assemble in Russia on July 15 for their annual summit.

In Washington, a Western diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said on Tuesday there was concern that Iran might not reply by then, dragging the process out through the summer.

Reuters SY GC2326