Russia, the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Germany and France approved a package of proposals to get Iran to halt work on enriching uranium at a Vienna meeting June 1. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana presented the offer to Tehran during his visit to Iran June 6.
"The Islamic Republic considers it illogical to set a deadline on its response to the package of proposals by the six countries before the G8 meeting in St. Petersburg or some other meeting," Manouchehr Mottaki said.
He said decisions made "at meetings without Iran's participation could harm the positive atmosphere" in resolving the Iranian nuclear problem.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said previously Tehran "will consider the proposals by the end of the Iranian month of Mordad [August 22], and will announce our decision according to the will of the Almighty."
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that the proposals embraced three spheres - Iran's nuclear program, economic and trade cooperation with Tehran and security guarantees.
U.S. President George Bush said that sanctions against Iran would be toughened if the country failed to accept the world community's initiative aimed at settling the Iranian nuclear problem.
He said if Iran turned down the proposal the country could end up in international isolation and face tougher political and economic sanctions.
