Iran's influential
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Sunday that Iran would carefully evaluate
the new package offered by the world powers but would not drop its
international rights to pursue nuclear technology.
"We welcome the settlement of the nuclear issue through negotiations but
reiterate that the nation's will (to pursue nuclear technology) is in line with
international regulations and recommend (the West) not to waste time by hoping
that Iran might forget about its rights," Larijani told the parliament.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Saturday gave Iran an updated package of incentives by the five veto powers plus Germany (5+1) to persuade the
Islamic state to follow international demands and stop uranium enrichment.
Iran has said it would evaluate the package, and ISNA news agency reported
that also the parliament would be involved in the evaluation process.
The Iranian press has shown mixed reactions to the package. While some papers
still see a chance to resume diplomatic talks to settle the nuclear dispute,
some other dailies consider the new package - and the Solana visit - as another
futile move.
The daily Kayhan, which is close to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, considered
the new package "empty" and said the main mission of Solana was to
give Iran an ultimatum on either accepting the package or facing consequences.
The government daily Iran however wrote that there have been some compatibility
between the two sides and if the West acknowledged the "new status and
potentials of Iran in the region and the world, a new phase of negotiations
could be resumed.", according to dpa.