Iran to issue nuclear reply at 1800 IST: Diplomats

Tehran, Aug 22: Iran will hand over its response to a nuclear package backed by six nations today at 4 pm 1800 ist in the Iranian capital, diplomats said.

Iran will handover the reply to the ambassadors of Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany, and to the Swiss ambassador who will represent the United States, because Washington does not have an embassy in Tehran, they said.

''I can confirm, there will be meeting at 4 pm for the EU3 plus Russia, China and the Swiss representative for the US,'' one of the diplomats told Reuters, after the news was first broadcast by an Iranian television station.

The response will be handed over at Iran's Supreme National Security Council, which handles the nuclear file, they said.

Iranian officials have said it would be a written reply and have said the reply will be ''multi-dimensional''.

Officials have ruled out suspending uranium enrichment, the key demand in the package.

Western diplomats say refusing to suspend the work that has both military and civilian uses would be tantamount to rejecting the package of incentives offered in return.

But refusal will not yet trigger action by the UN Security Council, which passed a resolution last month giving Iran a dead line of august 31 to halt enrichment or face possible sanctions.

Reuters

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