Iran said yesterday it would not abandon its right to nuclear technology in a defiant statement after Teheran's case was sent back to the UN Security Council over its atomic dispute with the West.

 

But US President George W. Bush kept up the pressure saying Teheran could not "wait us out" and Germany warned "other steps" would be necessary if Teheran did not respond to a package to rein in its atomic work.

 

Five permanent Security Council members, the US, France, Britain, Russia, China, plus Germany backed a package calling for Iran to halt uranium enrichment in return for economic and diplomatic incentives. But on Wednesday they asked the council to intervene after Teheran failed to reply.

 

"Our answer to the P5+1 package is clear, the Iranian nation abides by international laws and regulations but will not abandon its obvious right to obtain nuclear technology," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by state TV.

 

The West says Iran wants to enrich uranium to produce atomic bombs, a charge Iran denies. It has refused to halt the work.

 

"We are trying to investigate the proposed package positively," Ahmadinejad said in comments carried by Iran's Fars News Agency, but repeated that Iran would give its final reply by August 22 despite pressure for a swifter response.

 

France said world powers agreed on a plan to draw up a UN resolution "in a few days" telling Iran to stop sensitive atomic work. If it refused by mid-August, another resolution would be proposed under an article of the UN charter that allows for economic sanctions but not military force.

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the major powers were not yet considering imposing sanctions on Iran.

 

Lavrov has said using force was "absolutely excluded."

 

Analysts say Iran, the world's fourth largest oil exporter, may calculate that divisions at the UN Security Council mean it is only likely to face modest steps such as travel bans on officials or asset freezes measures they say Iran may believe it can weather.

 

The West says Iran is miscalculating if this is its view.

 

"The Iranians must realize that they can't wait us out," Bush said after meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who warned of "other steps" if Iran did not reply.

 

The spokesman for British Prime Minister Tony Blair said Iran was "making a mistake" if it believed there was a division.

 

China urges Iran to respond

 

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu yesterday urged Iran to make an active response to the incentive package.

 

"We hope Iran will adopt a constructive attitude and make positive response as soon as possible," said Jiang at a regular press briefing.

 

Jiang said the package has showed the important efforts made by the relevant parties in a bid to restart the negotiations.

 

She said China consistently maintains to resolve the issue through diplomatic efforts, which is in the common interest of the international community.

 

(China Daily July 14, 2006)