. . .

QUESTION: Another nuclear-armed nation, almost - Iran. Can you talk about reports that you're willing to drop the condition of suspension before talks begin?

MR. WOOD: Look, you know, the P-5+1 stated last week that we were - you know, that we were willing to resolve our shared concerns with Iran - Iran's nuclear program through direct diplomacy. And nothing has changed. Suspension is still our goal. And there is, you know, as I think you referred to, an incentives package that's on the table. It remains on the table. We encourage Iran to take up that incentives package. But I don't have anything beyond what --

QUESTION: But it used to be that suspension of uranium was a precondition for the talks to start. And it seems like that precondition has been dropped. President Obama himself has said that he's willing to talk to Iran without any preconditions.

MR. WOOD: Well, right. But again, this issue of suspension of uranium enrichment is an international condition, not an American condition.

QUESTION: Well, it sounds like it's being dropped if there are no preconditions --

MR. WOOD: Well, look --

QUESTION: -- to talking to Iran.

MR. WOOD: I don't have anything more beyond that. I mean, I saw the story, but I'm just laying out for you what our position is.

QUESTION: Well, is it your position that there's a mandatory suspension before talks start?

MR. WOOD: No, what we - look, we have said very clearly that we are willing to engage in direct diplomacy with Iran without conditions. But as I said, this particular issue with regard to enriched uranium --

QUESTION: Well, that was a U.S. demand.

MR. WOOD: No, it was a demand of the P-5+1.

QUESTION: It was a U.S. demand that was embraced by the rest of the P-5+1.

MR. WOOD: P-5+1.

QUESTION: So is it a demand of the P-5+1 that Iran suspend before talks start?

MR. WOOD: Look --

QUESTION: If you're asking them to start talking now and they haven't started yet - haven't stopped yet, so obviously you're willing to start talking to them without them having stopped enriching.

MR. WOOD: Well, as I said, that's a requirement of the P-5+1. But also, Elise, I just want to remind you as well that our Iran policy is still, you know, being reviewed. There are certain elements of it that we have already laid out for you. There will be others in the future.

But let me just leave it where I have it right now, and that's, you know, suspending enrichment, that remains our goal. We want to see that happen. That's an international requirement of Iran. But having said that, we - the P-5+1 supports our position in terms of direct diplomacy with Iran. As I mentioned last week, Bill Burns will be attending future P-5+1 meetings with Iran as a full participant. That is certainly new. And so that's where we are on the moment - at the moment.

QUESTION: Right. But if you're - if you invited Iran to talks and they haven't stopped their suspension yet and you're willing to start talking, then clearly they don't have to suspend before you start talking.

MR. WOOD: Elise, I can't put it any more plainly than I have.

QUESTION: Well, you're not --

MR. WOOD: It's our goal to get --

QUESTION: It's your ultimate goal.

MR. WOOD: -- that's - it's our goal.

QUESTION: But not necessarily the goal for the talks.

MR. WOOD: I'm just saying it's our goal.

QUESTION: Ultimate goal?

MR. WOOD: I'm saying it's our goal.

QUESTION: I mean, has there been any response from the Iranians yet to the invitation?

MR. WOOD: As far as I know, there has been no response to the Javier Solana invitation.

QUESTION: So are there plans for the political directors or others to - of just the P-5+1 without Iran - as you are waiting for the Iranian response, are there plans for them to meet to figure out --

MR. WOOD: Well, I mean --

QUESTION: -- where to go?

MR. WOOD: -- the P-5+1 engage in telephone conversations. I don't think there's anything scheduled, but I certainly - it wouldn't surprise me if, you know, there is some kind of P-5+1 conversation in the coming days or weeks. Nobody's told me that there is one planned, but it wouldn't surprise me.

QUESTION: And when would you like to see the meeting with Iran take place? Is this something as soon as possible, or is this something that you still need more (inaudible) from the P-5+1 side?

MR. WOOD: Well, first, we have to see indeed whether Iran responds to that invitation positively before we start talking about dates. And I think, you know, the last I checked, that's where we are.

. . .