Negotiators to discuss Iran nuclear incentive package

Top Iranian and EU negotiators will meet tonight for an informal discussion of Tehran’s response to the international incentives package designed to defuse the stand-off with the West over its nuclear programme.

“Tonight (EU foreign policy chief Javier) Solana will have a tete-a-tete dinner with Ali Larijani, to get the first response from the Iranians to the international offer,” EU spokeswoman Christina Gallach said in Brussels.

Larijani is Iran’s top nuclear negotiator. His scheduled meeting with Solana - at which he was supposed to respond to the package submitted to Iran last month - was called off at the last minute and rescheduled for today.

Iran cited anger over the activities of exile opposition groups as the reason for the unexpected delay.

Gallach said the two delegations would meet again next Tuesday in Brussels to formally address the issue.

Iranian officials have said they will seek explanations for ‘ambiguities’ contained in the offer.