AFP: Iran's launch of a Russian-built nuclear power plant will go ahead and is in no way linked to possible new sanctions over its alleged weapons programme, Russia's foreign ministry said Thursday.

AP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says efforts by the West to halt Iran's nuclear program will not bear fruit.

AFP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday accused the West of stirring up a "fuss" about Iran's nuclear programme, as reports said Washington has backed down from harsh sanctions against Tehran.

Wall Street Journal: The U.S. has backed away from pursuing a number of tough measures against Iran in order to win support from Russia and China for a new United Nations Security Council resolution on sanctions.

AFP: China on Thursday called for continued dialogue to resolve the international standoff over Iran's nuclear programme, after it took part in six-way talks on possible new sanctions against Tehran.

Reuters: U.S. President Barack Obama held telephone talks on Wednesday with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Iran, the Middle East peace process and global economic issues.

AP: Britain's U.N. ambassador says China has agreed to discuss possible new sanctions against Iran for the first time during talks with key nations.

Reuters: China joined five other world powers on Wednesday in a conference call to discuss a U.S.-drafted proposal for a new round of U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, envoys said.

AFP: Six major powers on Wednesday held a conference call on proposed new UN sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program, a Western diplomat said.