Tuesday, August 22 2006 11:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Berlin: German Chancellor Angela Merkel pressed for a 'solid answer' from Iran to an international package of incentives aimed at persuading the country to rein in its nuclear program.

Tehran has said that it w ill offer a 'multifaceted response' today (Aug 22, 2006) to the package, drawn up by the UN Security Council's five permanent members and Germany, but insisted it won't suspend uranium enrichment altogether.

"We are still waiting for a solid answer from Iran," Merkel told a news conference today.

"I still hope that it will be positive, although some signals have been very confused," he said.

Iran has said the package is an 'acceptable basis' for a compromise and that, while part of the package is convincing, there are ambiguities that needed to be clarified in talks.

It includes promises that the United States and Europe will provide civilian nuclear technology and that Washington will join direct talks with Iran.

Last month, the UN Security Council passed a resolution calling for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment by August 31 or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Iran, which claims its atomic program has only the peaceful aim of using reactors to generate electricity, has rejected the resolution as 'illegal,' saying it has not violated any of its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"Iran must see that we have made Iran a very good offer for its economic development, but that we also demand that some rules be kept to," Merkel said.