Iran: Incentive package a 'step forward'

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Friday that the six-nation incentive package aimed at getting his country to halt uranium enrichment was a step forward in resolving the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.

Generally speaking, we're regarding this offer as a step forward and I have instructed my colleagues to carefully consider it," Ahmadinejad told reporters after meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintaoon the sidelines of a regional summit in Shanghai.

Ahmadinejad's remark was the highest-level sign that Iran was preparing to negotiate over the package of incentives offered by the Big Five of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany.

The proposal called for negotiations, with the U.S. to take part, and other incentives on the condition that Iran freeze its uranium enrichment program.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060616/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iran_nuclear

I realized that he looks a lot like our fearless leader. Anyone else see the resemblance? Same beady eyes. Complexion a little darker and the beard of course. Take those off and you have another *! Just my opinion.

IRAN'S President yesterday welcomed a package of incentives aimed at inducing his country to abandon its nuclear program as a "step forward".

But Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, speaking after the conclusion of a Central Asian security group summit dominated by China and Russia, said Iran was examining the offer of incentives for Tehran to stop enriching uranium, a process that could eventually yield atomic bombs.

Asked whether he had received assurances from Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the summit to oppose sanctions against Iran, Mr Ahmadinejad said Iran did not accept the principle of sanctions and "so we don't talk about it".

Asked by The Age about the nuclear talks with Mr Hu and Mr Putin, the Iranian President said the three countries' "views and positions on many issues are close and even identical".

Washington confirmed on Thursday that penalties originally written into the package were left out when it was delivered to Tehran.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/tehran-welcomes-nuclear-proposals/2006/06/16/1149964740447.html