Ambassador Bolton: Okay. Let me just say one word on the subject of Iran's response, which apparently has been delivered to ambassadors in Tehran. Obviously, this is a significant moment. The Iranians have had approximately two and a half months to consider the very, very generous offer that the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany have made to them. So in their response today, which I take it, after months of rhetoric, should constitute the definitive Iranian answer, we will see whether they are now prepared to abide by their obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and convince the world that their intentions are as they say they are --peaceful. We will obviously study the Iranian response carefully, 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. If, on the other hand, the Iranians have chosen the path of cooperation, as we've said repeatedly, then a different relationship with the United States and the rest of the world is now possible.

Reporter: Ambassador, will you consider today's response by Iran to the incentives offer from the group of ambassadors you mentioned also the response to the Security Council demands or will you wait until the 31st of August to proceed with whatever responses you will have to their response?

Ambassador Bolton: I think this is a case where I'd have to say it depends on what the Iranians say. Certainly, the rhetoric, particularly in the past few days, has indicated they're not prepared to suspend their uranium enrichment activities. But we have consistently said for two and a half months that we would not rise to the rhetoric; we would wait for the definitive response. The president emphasized that again yesterday, and as we understand it, this should be the definitive response, and we'll move on the basis of our reading of it.

Reporter: Ambassador, would you please reiterate what the expectation is of Iran to satisfy the requirements of - that the United States and the Security Council have outlined?

Ambassador Bolton: We've made it clear in Security Council Resolution 1696 that Iran has a choice. They can either take up the very generous offer that the five permanent members and Germany have extended to them, and if they do, there's a possibility of a different relationship with the United States and others. But if they don't, we've also made it clear that 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. So the choice for two and a half months now has been with Iran, and if in fact, as we expect, this is the definitive response today, we'll know which path they've chosen.

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