Iran reportedly did not mention a nuclear freeze in a letter released to the six world powers working toward a freeze.
Tuesday’s letter, an apparent late response to a deadline set by the international powers on a diplomatic deal to contain Iran’s nuclear program, does not mention a freeze on the country’s nuclear development, according to Reuters.
A European Union official told Reuters the letter has not yet been received by the world powers, which include the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia
An Iranian official also told the news agency that a freeze was not mentioned in a telephone call Monday between Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana.
On July 19, the world powers offered Iran economic incentives, including the possibility of peaceful nuclear technologies, if it abandoned uranium enrichment — a process that can produce bombs. The Iranians were given two weeks to respond. The deadline on that ultimatum passed over the weekend.
The United States said Monday that the world powers would begin putting together a fifth round of United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
