Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday urged Iran to accept an international package of incentives aimed at defusing the standoff over Tehran's nuclear program.

"We would really like our Iranian partners to accept the proposals," said Putin, referring to a package put forward by the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani (2nd R) walks with Iraqi Parliament speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani (L) to attend a news conference after an official meeting in Tehran July 3, 2006. [Reuters]

He added he would like this to happen before next week's Group of Eight industrialized nations summit in Russia but thought this was unlikely.

China also pressed Iran to respond quickly to the package of incentives meant to wean it off enrichment but called on world powers to exercise restraint in the dispute.

"We hope Iran can respond to the package at an early date," said Jiang Yu, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman. "The Iranian issue is at an important stage and the urgent task is to help resume the talks as soon as possible."

Pressure is mounting on Iran to respond positively to the six-power offer, with Western nations threatening to reactivate efforts to punish it through possible UN Security Council sanctions unless it suspends uranium enrichment and agrees to talks on its nuclear program.

On Wednesday, senior EU envoy Javier Solana will urge top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani that Iran must accept the terms of the package by July 12, when foreign ministers of the five permanent Security Council nations and Germany consult in Paris, diplomats said.

Russia and China have opposed sanctions against Iran, a major commercial partner for both countries. But Western nations are pushing Moscow and Beijing to support them on UN Security Council action - including sanctions - if Tehran refuses the package of incentives.

Iranian officials have said they would not respond to the six-power offer before mid-August, a gambit described by one of the diplomats as an attempt to stall beyond the July 15-17 G-8 summit.

The six powers have insisted that Iran suspend its nascent enrichment activities before talks begin, but Tehran repeatedly has rejected that demand.

The enrichment program can produce fuel for nuclear power plants or material for atomic bombs.