Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/iran-agrees-to-negotiate-on-nuclear-program Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript Although Iran said Tuesday the country is willing to enter negotiations over its nuclear program, it did not indicate whether it would suspend uranium enrichment activities. Analysts discuss possible implications. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. MARGARET WARNER: Iran's chief nuclear negotiator delivered his government's response at an afternoon meeting in Tehran with diplomats from Europe, China and Russia.According to Iranian news agencies, Ali Larijani said his country is willing to enter serious negotiations on its nuclear program. But he didn't say publicly whether Iran had agreed to freeze uranium enrichment during the talks.Today was Iran's self-imposed deadline to respond to a package of incentives offered two months ago by the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany. That proposal marked the first time that the U.S. had offered to join the on-again, off-again negotiations between Tehran and the Europeans, but on one condition: Tehran had to suspend all enrichment activities.U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton spoke to reporters this morning.JOHN BOLTON, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations: We will obviously study the Iranian response carefully and — but we are also prepared, if it does not meet the terms set by the Perm 5 foreign ministers, to proceed here in the Security Council, as the ministers have agreed, with economic sanctions. MARGARET WARNER: Late last month, the U.N. Security Council added a stick to the offer: a unanimous resolution telling Iran to suspend all uranium- enrichment activities by August 31st or face the threat of stronger U.N. action, including possible sanctions. Iran promptly dismissed the threat as illegal.Yesterday, President Bush urged the council to respond forcefully if Iran didn't agree.GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States: In order for the U.N. to be effective, there must be consequences if people thumb their nose at the United Nations Security Council. And we will work with people on the Security Council to achieve that objective. MARGARET WARNER: Iran has sent tough signals in public in recent days. Monday, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to continue the pursuit of peaceful nuclear technology, saying, "The Islamic Republic of Iran has made up its mind to forcefully pursue its nuclear program."Yesterday, the Associated Press reported that Iran had turned away International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors at a nuclear facility near Natanz. Iran denies the story.Last weekend, Iran test-fired surface-to-surface missiles during military exercises, saying it demonstrated how Iran could defend its airspace against attack.