World powers, which backed a package to defuse a dispute with Iran over its nuclear ambitions are ready to respond to Iran’s call for talks but only if it first suspends uranium enrichment, France said today.

Iran replied to the incentives package offered by six nations yesterday, saying it contained ideas that would allow serious talks to start immediately. The West has in the past said such calls for talks were a tactic to stall and not act.

“As we have always said ... a return to the negotiating table is tied to the suspension of uranium enrichment,” French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a news conference.

But there has been no sign Tehran agreed to the precondition that it halt enrichment before talks start. The UN Security Council has given Iran until August 31 to freeze the work, which has civilian and military uses or face possible sanctions.

The five permanent UN Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany offered Iran economic and other incentives to stop enrichment. So far, they have been tight-lipped about Iran’s reply.

One EU diplomat earlier said Iran ruled out halting enrichment before talks in the 21-page reply “but indicated that it might be open to accept suspension in the course of negotiations”.

Other diplomats declined to confirm Iran had shown flexibility on enrichment.

The Washington Post quoted unidentified officials from countries involved saying Iran was willing to consider halting its atomic programme but not as a precondition for talks.

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