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Iran - nuclear talks
US pushes Iran for final answer on nuclear deal
Article published on the 2009-10-30 Latest update 2009-10-30 18:26 TU
IAEA nuclear inspectors arrive at Tehran airport this week
(Photo: Reuters)
The United States warned on Friday that Iran does not have unlimited time to accept a UN-drafted deal with global powers on its nuclear program. Iran wants more talks on how to procure nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor before giving its final reply, which was expected a week ago.
"The president's time is not unlimited, this was not about talking for the sake of talking, this was about reaching an agreement that just a few weeks ago seemed to be something that the Iranians wanted," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said.
World powers have been waiting for a response from Tehran for the International Atomic Energy Agency -drafted deal which proposes to ship out Iran's low-enriched uranium (LEU) abroad for converting into fuel for a Tehran reactor.
The energy agency said it has received an "initial response" from Iran to the deal, but the IRNA news agency indicated it was not Tehran's answer to the plan brokered by the agency.
Western powers are backing the plan for the reactor, which is an internationally supervised facility.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Friday the United States would wait for the outcome of talks with Iran before studying a new round of sanctions. She said she would "let the process play out”.
