July 7th, 2008 by Sarah

Borzou Daragahi and Ramin Mostaghim report in the L.A. Times that after being offered a package of incentives to forego its uranium enrichment program, Iran responded to the E.U. last Friday. While specifics have not been revealed, E.U. spokesmen call the Iranian response “positive” and “constructive.”

Babylon and Beyond suggests that Iran has ruled out halting its enrichment program as a precondition to negotiations, but the Islamic Republic News Agency reports that Iran is ready to negotiate.

The Iranian response comes at a time when many debate whether Israel or the U.S. will mount a preemptive strike against Iran.  Ron Paul warns that fellow members of Congress have openly voiced support such an attack. “The debate was not are we going to attack? but are we going to attack before or after the election?”

However, last Friday Iraqi Prime Minister Maliki signaled that the U.S. will not be given permission to use Iraqi airspace to do so.

Meanwhile, Grant Smith at Bloomberg.com argues that Iran’s response has lowered crude oil prices over the weekend.

Posted in EU, Iran, Iraq, US foreign policy |