Iran urges patience on response to N-package

The package drawn up by the Big Five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany was presented to Iran on June 6 by the European Union’s foreign policy chief Javier Solana while he visited Tehran.

‘‘The package contains legal, political and economic dimensions. All its dimensions have to be studied,’’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters on Sunday. ‘‘We recommend to Europeans that accuracy should not be sacrificed for the sake of speed,’’ he said.

Asefi said the package was a serious matter requiring careful study before Tehran comes up with a formal response. ‘‘The reason that there can’t be a speedy response is that we have to hold serious discussions on the contents,’’ he said.

Specialised committees in key state entities were studying the package. ‘‘We are taking it seriously,’’ the spokesman added.

Although details of the package have not been made public, the offer includes economic incentives and a provision for some US nuclear technology, lifting some sanctions, and joining direct negotiations with Tehran.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri Hamaneh warned on Sunday that Iran would use oil as a weapon if its interests are attacked, state television reported.

It is the second time in a month that Iran is making such a threat. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned earlier in June that Iran would disrupt the world’s oil supply if Tehran is punished over its nuclear programme.

‘‘If sanctions are imposed against Iran, it won’t be easy to fill Iran’s gap with 2.4 million barrels (per day). Oil prices will surpass $100 per barrel,” Hamaneh was quoted as saying.

ALI AKBAR DAREINI