AP: Iraq's largest Sunni Arab political bloc returned to the government fold Saturday after calling off a nearly one-year boycott of the Shiite-dominated leadership — another critical stride toward healing sectarian rifts. Iraqi Sunni bloc rejoins government
AP: Iraq's largest Sunni Arab political bloc returned to the government fold Saturday after calling off a nearly one-year boycott of the Shiite-dominated leadership — another critical stride toward healing sectarian rifts. Rice hopes Iran will change course in Geneva talks
Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday the United States would not soften its refusal to negotiate directly with Iran until Tehran gave up its nuclear program. In a shift, U.S. joins nuclear talks with Iran
New York Times: International talks on Iran’s nuclear ambitions ended in deadlock on Saturday, despite the Bush administration’s decision to reverse policy and send a senior American official to the table for the first time. Iran won’t discuss enrichment freeze in next talks
Reuters: Iran's top nuclear negotiator ruled out on Saturday discussion of freezing uranium enrichment at any subsequent round of talks with major powers. Iran nuclear talks make ‘insufficient’ progress: Solana
AFP: Attempts to persuade Iran to give up its disputed nuclear programme made "insufficient" progress, the European Union's diplomatic chief said Saturday after high-level talks in Geneva. Rice hopes Iran will change course in Geneva talks
Reuters: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday the United States would not soften its refusal to negotiate directly with Iran until Tehran gave up its nuclear program. Rice acknowledges US policy shift on Iran
AFP: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Friday confirmed that the United States had shifted its position on diplomacy with Iran, with the decision to send a senior envoy to Geneva to participate in nuclear talks with Iran's top negotiator. IMF urges Iran to act to contain inflation
Reuters: The International Monetary Fund said prospects for Iran's economy were good, but urged the government to act promptly to rein in inflation that is expected at about 25 percent. Will Washington betray anti-regime Iranians?
Jerusalem Post – By Daniel Pipes: As the United Nations mandate that legitimizes the presence of US forces in Iraq expires on December 31, a humanitarian and strategic disaster is coming into view. The fate of about 3,500 anti-regime Iranians will be decided in the course of status-of-forces negotiations between Washington and Baghdad. EU condemns Iran on death penalty before atom talks
Reuters: The European Union criticised Iran on Friday for a spate of executions and plans to extend the scope of the death penalty, a day before it leads international talks on Tehran's disputed nuclear programme. 