AFP: The head of the UN atomic agency will visit Iran Monday, the IAEA said in a surprise announcement that raised hopes of a deal on closer cooperation just days ahead of major talks with world powers.
Iran diplomacy gathers pace with surprise IAEA visit
World powers forge joint approach to Iran talks
Los Angeles Times: The United States and five other countries have agreed to offer a joint proposal to Iran at a high-level meeting next week in an effort to open a path for negotiations to curtail Tehran’s disputed nuclear program and to ease the threat of war.
Iran summons Bahrain envoy in protest
AP: Iran has summoned Bahrain’s top diplomat in the country to relay its concerns over the unrest in the tiny island nation.
For Iran ‘breakthrough,’ coalition cannot break down
Bloomberg: The word “breakthrough” has been uttered hopefully in anticipation of the meeting May 23 in Baghdad of officials from six world powers and Iran to resolve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.
House measure raises pressure on Obama over Iran
AFP: US lawmakers on Thursday adopted a sharply worded resolution warning about the dangers of a nuclear-armed Iran and urging President Barack Obama to increase diplomatic and political pressure against Tehran.
Iran vows never to renounce nuclear ‘rights’
AFP: Iran rejects Western pressures over its nuclear activities and will never give up its rights, Tehran’s chief nuclear negotiator said Thursday ahead of crunch talks with world powers in Baghdad next week.
Ahmadinejad ‘blocked from Olympics’
Press Association: Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claims he has been blocked by the UK authorities from attending the Olympic Games in London.
Iran to sue Google over dropping Persian Gulf name
AP: Iran says it will sue Google over dropping the name of the Persian Gulf on Google Maps.
Plans to strike Iran “ready”, says U.S. Israel envoy
Reuters: U.S. plans for a possible military strike on Iran are ready and the option is “fully available”, the U.S. ambassador to Israel said, days before Tehran resumes talks with world powers which suspect it of seeking to develop nuclear arms.
Iran: Advocacy groups join in drive to tighten sanctions
New York Times: An American advocacy group that has successfully pushed for strict sanctions against Iran joined with a prominent European research organization to press for further economic penalties against Iran over its disputed uranium enrichment program.
