US shows ignorance on new Iran offer

The White House says it has received no official notification from Iran on a package of new proposals regarding its nuclear program. We have seen the media reports, though we have not heard anything conclusively from the Iranians on that, said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. It has always been our hope that the Iranians will live up to their international obligations and give up their nuclear weapons program, Gibbs maintained. On the other hand, Iran's top nuclear negotiator said the Islamic republic had updated its package of proposals linked to its atomic program and was ready for fresh talks. The Islamic republic's package of proposals is updated and ready, and will be presented (to world powers),Saeed Jalili, who is also the secretary of the country's Supreme National Security Council, told reporters. Jalili's announcement comes a day after French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned of further sanctions against the Islamic republic if it failed to negotiate with world powers.