AFP: US President George W. Bush on Wednesday accused Damascus and Tehran of ties to terrorism, and told Iranians: “As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you.” “We expect the Syrian government to end all support for terror and open the door to freedom,” Bush said in his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of the US Congress and a television audience of millions. Bush: US stands with Iran reformers
AFP: US President George W. Bush on Wednesday accused Damascus and Tehran of ties to terrorism, and told Iranians: “As you stand for your own liberty, America stands with you.” “We expect the Syrian government to end all support for terror and open the door to freedom,” Bush said in his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of the US Congress and a television audience of millions. Iran nears bomb production with nuclear trigger capacity: opposition group
AFP: Iran has obtained the materials and expertise to make the triggers for an atomic bomb, bringing closer its goal of acquiring nuclear weapons later this year, the main Iranian opposition grouping said in Paris Thursday. Citing secret sources inside Iran’s nuclear development programme, the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) said that Tehran has produced or bought from abroad quantities of polonium-210 and beryllium — two elements required for building a “neutron initiator.” Iran says it will never scrap nuke program
AP: Iran will never scrap its nuclear program, and talks with Europeans are intended to protect the country’s nuclear achievements, not negotiate an end to them, an Iranian official said Wednesday. The remarks by Ali Agha Mohammadi, spokesman of Iran’s powerful Supreme National Security Council, are the latest in a hardening of his country’s stance amid ongoing talks with European negotiators. GE Says No New Business in Iran
Reuters: Faced with political pressure over its business ties in Iran, General Electric Co. said on Wednesday it would not accept any new business there, citing “uncertain conditions” in the country. “Senior management and the board decided in mid-December to discontinue taking new orders because of uncertain conditions relating to Iran,” said Gary Sheffer, executive director of communications and public affairs at GE. US official scoffs at fears of war with Iran
AFP: US President George W. Bush will make clear in his annual State of the Union address that he wants a peaceful solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, a senior aide said Tuesday. The official, speaking at a briefing organized by the White House on condition that he not be named, scoffed at concerns that Washington might use force against Iran after invading Iraq 22 months ago. Rice sees pressure increasing on Iran
AFP: Iran is under growing international pressure to renounce its suspected nuclear arms programs, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday, but she refused to rule out seeking UN action. Rice said in an interview that Washington “greatly appreciates” the efforts by Britain, France and Germany to try to persuade Tehran to give up its nuclear weapons ambitions. US Legislators Ask Bush to Outline Iran Policy in State of Union Address
Voice of America: No part of President Bush’s State of the Union address in 2002, a few months after the September 2001 terrorist attacks, was more controversial than his use of the term axis of evil to describe an Iraq then still ruled by Saddam Hussein, North Korea and Iran. On Iran he said this: “Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people’s hope for freedom.” Official: Ukraine sold missiles to Iran
AP: A senior Ukrainian legislator alleges the country sold nuclear-capable cruise missiles to Iran and China in violation of international non-proliferation treaties and is demanding the new government launch a full investigation. The allegations were made in a letter — made available to The Associated Press on Tuesday — by legislator Hrihory Omelchenko and addressed to President Viktor Yushchenko, who took office last week. Iran determined to be nuclear fuel exporter
Reuters: Iran, accused by Washington of developing nuclear weapons, is determined to become one of the world’s suppliers of nuclear fuel, a senior Iranian official said on Tuesday. The head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei, last year proposed a five-year moratorium on the creation of new nuclear fuel production facilities around the world, which would include Iran’s uranium enrichment facilities.EU Rejects Iran Call to Speed Up Nuclear Talks
Reuters: The European Union rejected on Tuesday a call by Iran to speed up talks on its disputed nuclear program, insisting the pace of negotiations was right and that the dialogue was on track. Iran, which denies U.S. accusationsthat it is seeking nuclear weapons, has agreed to freeze potentially arms-related uranium enrichment activities while …
