Iran claims its updated nuclear package is ready

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TEHRAN — Iran has "prepared an updated nuclear package" and will discuss it with the five veto-wielding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany (known as P5+1), Iran’s Press TV reported on September 1.

"The package is ready to be presented," Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili said. "We hope [a new] round of talks will be held to help the world feel progress, justice and peace." He did not say what the new package entailed. Jalili told the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency that his country "is ready to cooperate in order to alleviate common concerns in the international arena."

The news comes two days after France and Germany warned Iran that time is running out for a return to international talks on its nuclear programme lest it face the imposition of stiffer international sanctions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she hoped to have a "positive answer" from Iran soon, or else stronger measures would be considered at the P5+1 meeting in Frankfurt on September 2.

Germany has played a leading role in trying to break the diplomatic impasse over Iran's nuclear program, which Tehran says is aimed at generating electrical power for civilian use, but Western nations suspect is intended to develop nuclear weapons.

Additionally, Western officials are dubious about Iran's intentions, noting that Jalili’s comments came on the eve of the P5+1 meeting in Frankfurt. There was "not a hint of substance" in the reports out of Tehran one official said, adding that it looked as if they were "timed to split" the unity of the Security Council on Iran sanctions.

U.S. President Barack Obama has offered to engage in talks with Iran but has also said that Iran can expect a new round of sanctions if it does not come up with plans to answer demands that it cease all uranium enrichment activities.

Outgoing director of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed El Baradei, however, said that he still "has not seen concrete evidence that Tehran has an ongoing nuclear weapons programme."

[CNN/The Independent]