PARIS: World powers are ready to respond to Iran's call for talks over its nuclear ambitions but only if it first suspends uranium enrichment.

Iran handed over its response to an incentives package offered by six nations on Tuesday, saying it offered ideas that would allow serious talks to start immediately. The West has in the past said such calls for talks were a stalling tactic.

"As we have always said... a return to the negotiating table is tied to the suspension of uranium enrichment," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a news briefing.

There has been no sign Teheran agrees to this precondition, which it has previously dismissed as unacceptable.

One EU diplomat earlier said Iran had ruled out halting enrichment before talks in the 21-page reply "but indicated that it might be open to accept suspension in the course of negotiations."

The Washington Post quoted unidentified officials from countries involved saying Iran was willing to consider halting its atomic programme but not as a precondition for negotiations.

"In the reply, although (the West) has taken destructive measures, Iran has tried to create new opportunities for resolving the issue," senior Iranian nuclear official Ali Hosseinitash told Iran's media.

Douste-Blazy described the reply as "a very long, complex document" and said the six powers would decide in a few days what to do in the Security Council.

European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the reply "requires a detailed and careful analysis."

'DIPLOMACY BEST WAY TO RESOLVE STANDOFF'

China believes that peaceful resolution through diplomacy is the best way to address the Iranian nuclear issue, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement yesterday.

Beijing is carefully studying Iran's response to the offer made by six world powers to defuse the nuclear standoff, according to the ministry.

The offer includes both incentives for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and possible sanctions if it fails to comply.

The Chinese Government hopes Iran seriously considers the concern of the international community and come up with necessary and constructive measures, it said.

"We also hope that other parties concerned maintain calm and patience, show flexibility, stick to the orientation of peaceful resolution and create favourable conditions for resuming talks as soon as possible," it said.

(China Daily 08/24/2006 page1)