U.S. warns of 'punitive' action on Iran

tauringhuang.

BANGKOK, Thailand (CN*) -- Iran may face "punitive" measures because of its insufficient response to an incentives package offered in return for a cutback in its nuclear program, a senior White House official said Wednesday.


Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinjad

"In the absence of a positive response to the generous offer that we provided in our incentives package, I think that the allies will have no choice but to take further measures that would be punitive," spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Thailand, the next stage of a week-long Asian tour by President George W. Bush, she said Iran's response to the package "doesn't look like it's anything worth writing home about."

The political directors of the "P5 plus one" group -- China, France, Britain, Russia, the United States and Germany -- will hold a conference call on Wednesday to discuss next steps in regards to Iran.

A top United Nations' nuclear official agency is manwhile due head to Iran Thursday for talks with officials amid the current continued diplomatic sparring between Iran and Western powers over the Iran's nuclear ambitions

The International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday that its deputy director general Olli Heinonen is headed there, but did not elaborate on the agenda.

Two senior U.S. officials told CN* Tuesday that Iran's response to an international offer of incentives in return for a cutback in its nuclear program is not acceptable.

"It doesn't seem to be what we are looking for," one said. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the diplomacy involved.

The officials said the one-page document, sent Tuesday from top Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili to European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, says the Iranians are "ready to provide a clear response" to the offer -- once those world powers that tendered it "provide a clear response" to the questions Iran posed in a paper it submitted late last month at talks in Geneva.

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That "non-paper" -- or off-the-record statement -- submitted by Iran at Geneva was dismissed by the "P5 plus one" group as unclear and not a positive response.

"It's another non-answer," another senior U.S. official said of Tuesday's new document. "It doesn't say anything. They are still pretending they are responding."

The political directors of these six countries will hold a conference call on Wednesday to discuss next steps.

The U.S. State Department said this week more sanctions against Iran would be considered in the absence of a positive response.

These Western powers want Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment activities, fearing it is a step toward developing a nuclear weapon. Tehran contends it is developing nuclear energy for peaceful domestic purposes.
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