Iran deflects deadline before EU nuclear talks

BRUSSELS, July 11 (Reuters) Iran's chief nuclear negotiator today deflected Western pressure for an answer to a package of incentives to suspend uranium enrichment ahead of crucial talks with the European Union.

Ali Larijani told reporters on his way to a meeting with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana: ''We have expressed our view regarding the deadline. We are not used to acting before thinking.'' The United States, which accuses Tehran of secretly working to develop nuclear weapons, has said it wants a clear Iranian response to the package delivered on June 6 before next weekend's Group of Eight industrialised nations summit in Russia. Iran has said it will reply by late August.

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