TEHRAN, IRAN – Iran injected some breathing space into the international crisis over its nuclear program yesterday, saying it will extend its suspension of uranium enrichment until the end of July to give European negotiators time to prepare a proposal it can accept.

The announcement, which followed Tehran’s agreement last month to review a European Union proposal for a new round of negotiations in the summer, provides a temporary respite in the dispute. But Iran warned against wasting the opportunity to strike a deal.

“The Europeans have time up to the end of July to prepare details of their proposal,” a spokesman for Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Aghamohammadi, said.

“To make Iran’s nuclear facilities active in a proper way, both sides should work toward providing guarantees,” Mr. Aghamohammadi was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Europe sees suspension of uranium enrichment by Tehran as a precondition for further talks. No date has been set for the summer negotiations.

Iran suspended enrichment last November under international pressure led by America. Iran maintains its program is peaceful, but the E.U. and America fear the program is being used to develop nuclear weapons in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Six months of talks with Europe have made no progress on the key point of contention – Iran’s insistence on the right to enrich uranium and European opposition to such plans.

Enriched uranium can be used to produce warheads, but it also can be used in the production of electricity, which Iranian officials insist is the sole purpose of their nuclear program.

Iran has said repeatedly that its November decision to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities was voluntary and temporary. The Europeans have been offering economic incentives in the hope that Iran will make it permanent.