Iran Focus: London, Mar. 01 – The International Committee of the Red Cross dismissed claims by Iran that it supervised the repatriation of a group of 100 Iranians formerly associated with the opposition People’s Mojahedin in Iraq.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Mar. 01 – Workers’ demands for overdue wages and actions over poor working conditions have gained momentum over the past few days in Iran, with protests and strikes erupting in a number of towns and cities. Coal miners from Sangroud are set to march today all the way to Tehran to demand that their wages be paid and safety measures be properly implemented.

AP: Iran has begun production of a heavy machine-gun with armour-piercing bullets, state television reported Tuesday. Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani said the 12.7-millimetre gun has a range of 2.5 kilometres and is suitable for snipers. “The United States had protested to a European country about selling the gun (to Iran), while we have already produced it,” Shamkhani said. “Today the first consignment of the weapon was delivered.”

Reuters: President George W. Bush is close to deciding whether to join Europe in offering incentives to Iran, including membership of the World Trade Organization, in exchange for Tehran’s agreement to give up nuclear weapons, U.S. officials said on Monday. It would mark a significant shift in strategy for Bush, who has been reluctant to consider economic incentives for Iran to avoid being seen as rewarding bad behavior. He had been talking about taking Iran to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.