JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) It's now been eight months since Iran broke UN seals at this uranium enrichment plant. But analysts believe they haven't been able to enrich as much uranium as quickly as they planned.
MARK FITZPATRICK (INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES)
Obviously they're having some technical problems. This is one reason they don't want to suspend the enrichment activity right now.
ANCHORS: CHARLES GIBSON
REPORTERS: JIM SCIUTTO (LONDON, ENGLAND)
CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Good evening. It was an answer the world was waiting for, but it wasn't really an answer. Months ago, Iran was offered a deal. Suspend your nuclear enrichment program, which many think is leading toward building a bomb and the international community will make it worth your while with incentives. Today, Iran answered with good news and bad news. The good, they want serious negotiations on the issue. The bad, they're not going to abandon nuclear enrichment. Our report tonight is from ABC's Jim Sciutto who was recently in Iran.
GRAPHICS: IRAN'S ANSWER
JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) Iran's top negotiator promised a new formula for talks, but no suspension of nuclear activities, the key demand from both the UN and the Bush administration. 'Despite all of the propaganda Iran is trying to buy time," said Ali Larijani, 'we urge a return to the negotiating table as soon as possible." Western officials refuse to comment publicly on Iran's response saying they needed time to study the 23-page document. But US ambassador to the UN again threatened sanctions.
JOHN BOLTON (US AMBASSADOR TO UN)
Their unwillingness to give up their pursuit of nuclear weapons will result in our efforts in the Security Council to obtain economic sanctions against them.
JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) But can they succeed? (Inaudible) announced is that Iran appears to be testing the Bush administration's ability to muster the votes.
JON WOLFSTHAL (CSIS)
Iran is really testing the resolve of all of the International Security Council members to try and see whether they can shatter the coalition that's currently against them.
JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) It's now been eight months since Iran broke UN seals at this uranium enrichment plant. But analysts believe they haven't been able to enrich as much uranium as quickly as they planned.
MARK FITZPATRICK (INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES)
Obviously they're having some technical problems. This is one reason they don't want to suspend the enrichment activity right now.
JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) During our travels through Iran this month, we found most Iranians supportive of their country's nuclear ambitions.
JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Why do you want Iran to have nuclear weapons?
JIM SCIUTTO (ABC NEWS)
(Voiceover) 'Why should only Iran not have the bomb?" said this shopkeeper. 'Israel shouldn't have it. The Russians shouldn't and neither should the Americans." And now, even under further threat of sanctions, many say they're willing to pay in economic fronts for nuclear power. Jim Sciutto, ABC News, London.
CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) And our chief White House correspondent, Martha Raddatz is joining us tonight. So, Martha, what does the administration think of the Iranian response?
MARTHA RADDATZ (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Well, an administration official told me today that they will respond hot and heavy tomorrow. What that means, Charlie, is that they will meet with European allies and they will try to draft a new sanctions resolution. The US will call for freezing Iranian assets abroad and imposing a travel ban on senior Iranian officials. This US official says, this has been well underway. As he said, we have not had our head in the sands on this. We expected this kind of response from Iran.
CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) But you got to get those sanctions through the UN Security Council, and the issue is will the Chinese go along? Or the Russians?
MARTHA RADDATZ (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) That's exactly right, Charlie. And that's where the bravado ends in the administration. They believe they will get some sort of sanctions. They just don't know how tough they will be and as you said, whether China or Russia will go along.
CHARLES GIBSON (ABC NEWS)
(Off-camera) Well, I suspect then we'll hear from them and you tomorrow. Martha Raddatz at the White House.
