[JURIST] Iran [JURIST news archive] will stop considering international incentives to end its uranium enrichment program if the UN Security Council [official website] passes a resolution sanctioning the country, Iranian Foreign Ministry [official website] spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi [Wikipedia profile] stated Sunday. France proposed the resolution Friday after negotiations among the permanent members of the Security Council demanding that Iran end nuclear activities by August 31 or face sanctions. Asefi stated such a resolution "would definitely not help solve regional issues and would create a deeper crisis in the region."

The United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia, and China recently approved a package of commercial incentives aimed at persuading Iran to end enrichment. Iran has stated that it will answer the package by August 22, but that if the resolution is approved, "the package will no longer be on our agenda." Iranian officials have previously threatened to withdraw [JURIST report] from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) [PDF text] if they feel unfairly treated by the Security Council. The Council is expected to vote on the resolution this week. Reuters has more.