Diplomats: Iran nuke report lacks answers

TEHRAN, Sept. 10 (UPI) -- Iran offered Western officials a package of proposals to restart talks on its nuclear program, but diplomats say the document falls short on substance.

Officials reviewing the document of less than 10 pages said it disregarded questions about Iran's nuclear fuel production, focusing instead on general international issues, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. The response did not mention Iran's willingness to suspend uranium-enrichment activities or enter meaningful talks.

Meanwhile, the U.S. envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna gave a grave assessment of Iran's nuclear work. Glyn Davies said Wednesday Iran has enough fissile material to produce a nuclear bomb, if Tehran enriches the uranium to weapons-grade level.

"Ongoing enrichment activity ... moves Iran closer to a dangerous and destabilizing possible breakout capacity," he told the U.N. nuclear watchdog Wednesday.

Iran denied the U.S. allegations.

U.S. President Barack Obama gave Iran a deadline of September to show good faith in negotiations about its nuclear program. Failing that effort, U.S. officials said they hope to gain broad international agreement for new sanctions.

Western officials said they hope Iran would agree to freeze its production of nuclear fuel in exchange for the West not imposing new economic sanctions as formal negotiations begin.

Instead, Tehran's letter to the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany recapped Iranian calls for better cooperation with the international community, the Journal said.

Iran's lead nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, publicly ruled out a compromise, saying the nation would not cede its right to its nuclear program or wait for permission from other countries.