Agence France Presse, Paris – France and Germany said Friday Iran’s response to incentives aimed at ending a standoff over its nuclear program lacked crucial details, and urged it to seize the opportunity to resolve the crisis.
The leaders of the two countries made their comments as France said "technical contacts" could take place with Iran in the coming days in a bid to clarify some aspects of its response.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Iran’s response lacked "important elements" but that the door remained open.
Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Jacques Chirac in Paris, Merkel said Tehran had to grasp the package of incentives it was being offered in return for suspending uranium enrichment.
"We want Iran to recognise clearly the offer that was made," she said, adding that "Iran has to be able to seize every opportunity" in the international community’s offer for the sake of the Iranian people.
Chirac said the pair had agreed during talks Friday that Iran’s response was "ambiguous".
The Iranian response "is a bit ambiguous… especially on the means of the eventual suspension of the sensitive activities that was requested by the international community," he said.
Meanwhile France’s foreign ministry said "contact" with Iran could be established in the next few days.
"It is not ruled out that, perhaps, technical contacts could be established with the Iranians," spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told a press briefing.
"It is a possibility in the coming days, if we believe it is seen as useful on both sides. There could be technical contacts to clarify certain aspects of the dossier sent by the Iranians."
Iran on Tuesday called for talks after giving a written response to a deal aimed at ending a long-running nuclear standoff.
Western nations have reacted coolly to Iran’s response to the offer by the five permanent United Nations Security Council members plus Germany of incentives in return for a halt to uranium enrichment.
