The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. nuclear agency says he hopes Iran will take advantage of what he calls an "enormous diplomatic opportunity" to resolve the standoff over its nuclear program.
Gergory Schulte spoke as the International Atomic Energy Agency board began meeting on Iran in Vienna, Monday. He says it is up to Iran to respond to an international incentives offer and suspend uranium enrichment and other sensitive nuclear activities.
I.A.E.A. chief Mohamed ElBaradei told the meeting his inspectors have made little progress in resolving verification issues about Iran's nuclear program.
Earlier Monday, an Iranian government spokesman said his country has a right to the technology it has obtained and will not negotiate over what he called the country's obvious and absolute nuclear rights.
The incentives package agreed to by the United States, China, France, Russia, Britain and Germany is said to include international support for Iran's effort to build a nuclear power plant. The U.S. also would agree to drop some trade sanctions and allow Iran to buy spare parts for its aging fleet of American-made aircraft.
The proposal is believed to include a threat of sanctions if Iran fails to curb its nuclear activities.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
