Iran responded to the incentive package given by the Western powers on Tuesday and said that it had offered positive signals in its proposal to resolve the standoff over its nuclear program.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said that if the Europeans paid proper attention to the positive and clear signals in Iran's response, then the nuclear standoff can be solved through negotiation and without tension.
But key UN Security Council members differed in their responses.
The US State Department agreed that Iran was sincere in its proposal but it fell short of the conditions set by the UN - the mainone being that Iran halt nuclear enrichment.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said that only if Iran suspends enrichment can negotiation continue.
German Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Jaeger said that the UN demand for suspension of enrichment indicated that Iran has lost the confidence of the international community that its nuclear program is civilian.
On the other hand Russia's Foreign Ministry said that talk of sanctions was premature before the Aug. 31 deadline was met and that they would continue to seek a negotiated solution.
China urged United States and its allies to be patient and Iran towards "constructive measures".
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