Annan Urges Iran To Reply To International Offer

A UN statement said Annan told Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki that Tehran should speed up its response to the proposals put forward by the permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

As part of that package, the United States offered to join Europe in direct talks with Iran if Tehran first agreed to suspend uranium enrichment.

But speaking earlier on June 27, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Iran would not benefit from talks with the Washington. The White House dismissed Khamenei's comments as not representative of Iran's government.

(compiled from agency reports)