The United States urged Iran on Friday to choose the path of cooperation and abandon uranium enrichment and reprocessing that are suspected by Washington for nuclear weapons purposes.

"If Iran chooses the path of cooperation, if Iran decides to suspend uranium enrichment, come back to talks, negotiate in good faith and move forward on this, then this is something that can be beneficial not only for the rest of the international community but for Iran and for Iran's people as well," acting State Department spokesman Tom Casey said at a briefing.

As to the package reached in Vienna concerning Iran's nuclear issue, Casey said that "it represents the concerted agreement of all the ministers" in Vienna and "is a real and sincere effort at diplomacy."

On Thursday, the United States and five other powers agreed to offer Iran a broad new package of both incentives and penalties if Iran refuses to cooperate.

U.S. President George W. Bush has warned that the United States would seek United Nations Security Council sanctions against Iran if it refuses to suspend uranium enrichment.

However, Iran has refused to do so and said its uranium enrichment programs are for peaceful purposes only.

Source: Xinhua