Iran seriously considering offer: Annan.

GENEVA (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Thursday that Iran’s foreign minister had told him Tehran was seriously considering an offer of incentives aimed at defusing a row over its nuclear program.

The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany have offered Iran incentives, including access to advanced civilian nuclear technology, but say Tehran must first suspend enrichment before any discussions can start.

“They are considering the package very, very seriously,” Annan told a news conference in Geneva after a nearly hour-long meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki.

How seriously?

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday that Tehran would respond to the proposal by August 22, but the six powers want Iran to reply within weeks.

Ahmadinejad derided foes of Iran’s nuclear work as mentally disturbed, ignoring a fresh plea by Annan for all sides involved in the dispute to cool their rhetoric.