Brussels, Belgium ? The European Union said Friday it will prod Iran to clarify questions about its lukewarm response to a package of economic incentives designed to get the country to suspend uranium enrichment.

Tehran’s response, contained in a 20-page document presented Tuesday, was judged insufficient by the United States and some of the five other major nations that drew up the package.

French President Jacques Chirac termed Iran’s answer a “little ambiguous, notably on whether it would eventually suspend sensitive activities.”

Iran didn’t even mention the demand of the U.N. Security Council that it stop uranium enrichment by Thursday, moving it closer to possible economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Iranians stuck by their position Friday despite Western insistence that Tehran commit to suspending enrichment as demanded by the U.N. Security Council.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki took a defiant position, saying no power will be able to take nuclear technology “for peaceful purposes” away from Iran, according to a report by state-run television.

Hardline cleric Ahmad Khatami said Iran was open to negotiations over the nuclear issue but will not bow to threats.

“The spirit of Iran’s response is ‘yes’ to logical dialogue without precondition. No one can talk to Iran with the language of threats,” Khatami said during his Friday sermon broadcast on Iran’s state radio.

He urged Russia and China, which also joined in the incentives offer, not to “fall in the trap of the U.S.”

Iran insists its nuclear program has the peaceful goal of generating electricity. But the United States and many of its European allies suspect Iran wants enriched uranium for use in nuclear bombs.