Tuesday, September 19 2006 10:46 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Tehran: Iran yesterday (Sept 18 ,2006) denied reports that the country was ready to consider freezing uranium enrichment for up to two months even as it warned against UN sanctions, saying it would respond by cutting international inspections of its nuclear program.

Government spokesman Gholan Hossein Elham said in Tehran that any mention of Iran agreeing to suspend its nuclear program, even temporarily, was just a misconception.

"Both sides of the negotiation have not reached any conclusion in this regard," Elham told reporters.

Diplomats in Vienna, Austria who were familiar with talks between senior Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijan and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told The Associated Press on Sept. 10 that Tehran was ready to consider temporarily complying with a UN Security Council demand that it halt enrichment. The diplomats asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Solana has not confirmed what the diplomats said.

Elham did not elaborate today but said he didn't think any issue was 'insolvable.'

"Upon determination of both parties, the negotiation could be continued," he said.

Iranian Vice President Reza Aghazadeh also said in Vienna yesterday at the International Atomic Energy Agency conference that his country was ready for negotiations and political compromise.

But he also threatened cutting international inspections of Iran's nuclear program in response to 'hostile action.'