The French Foreign Ministry said on Monday Paris hoped Iran to accept the economic and nuclear cooperation offer in exchange for an end to its nuclear program.

"We hope, along with the United Nations Secretary General (Kofi Annan), and as Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has said several times, that Iran will seize the offer made to it," said French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Agnes Romatet-Espagne.

"It is premature to speculate on what response it will give," she said, noting that Tuesday would be the deadline for Iran to reply to the June 6 proposal made by the five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany.

The offer made to Teheran provides for nuclear and economic cooperation, such as the building of light-water nuclear reactors and support for Iran to join the World Trade Organization. But the condition is that Iran suspend uranium enrichment activities. The United Nations threatened Iran with sanctions if it does not halt such activities by Aug. 31.

Iran's supreme religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday his country would press on with its nuclear work.

Source: Xinhua