 The European Union said Friday it will prod Iran to clarify questions about its lukewarm response to a package of economic incentives designed to get the country to suspend uranium enrichment.
| "Here, this part where it says, 'Go to hell!' What did you mean by that?" |
Tehran's response, contained in a 20-page document presented Tuesday, was judged insufficient by the United States and some of the five other major nations that drew up the package.
"Mr. Bolton! The Iranian response is here!"
"Oh, yeah? What's in it?"
"It's a... ummm... bucket of spittle! Please don't holler at me!" |
| “French President Jacques Chirac on Friday termed Iran's answer a 'little ambiguous'..."” |
French President Jacques Chirac on Friday termed Iran's answer a "little ambiguous, notably on whether it would eventually suspend sensitive activities."
| Not being French, I consider 'no' to be pretty unambiguous, but I never have been good with nuances... |
Iran didn't even mention the demand of the U.N. Security Council that it stop uranium enrichment by Aug. 31, moving it closer to possible economic and diplomatic sanctions. Although there was no comment from Iran's government Friday, hardline cleric Ahmad Khatami said Iran was open to negotiations but would not bow to threats. "The spirit of Iran's response is 'yes' to logical dialogue without precondition. No one can talk to Iran with the language of threats," Khatami said during his Friday sermon broadcast on Iran's state radio. |