AP: Iran added a “strategic missile” to its military arsenal aftera successful test, and the defense minister said Saturday his country was ready to confront any external threat.
The report by state-run radio did not say whether the test involved the previously announced new version of the
Shahab-3 rocket, capable of reaching Israel and U.S. forces stationed in the Middle East, or a different missile.


UPI: Iran’s Foreign Minister at the United Nations Friday described the United States as extremist and said its use of unbridled militarism causes terrorism.
Washington Post: The Bush administration is exploring several steps aimed at containing Tehran’s growing influence in Iraq, according to U.S. officials, who say a split between the Pentagon and the State Department has paralyzed the administration’s ability to craft a long-term policy on Iran for three years.
Washington Times: Federal prosecutors completed a plea agreement this week that imposed more than $6.3 million in fines on a U.S. company that illegally sent embargoed high-technology pumps to Iran.
Daily Telegraph: France’s foreign minister, Michel Barnier, insisted yesterday that Iran must assure the world that it does not plan to acquire atomic weapons as European nations lost patience with Teheran over its nuclear programme.
AFP: Germany came away from a meeting with Iran on even more concerned about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions than before the talks, diplomatic sources said.
Iran Focus: Tehran, Sep. 24 At least 120 persons have been hanged in public in Iran since March, according to the state-owned press. A man was hanged in public today in the city of Ahwaz (southwestern Iran). Mohsen Sh. was accused of
AFP: A top Iranian conservative cleric warned the United States
Reuters: European countries are losing patience with Iran over its nuclear program, diplomats said on Friday, as France’s foreign minister insisted Tehran must assure the world it does not plan to acquire nuclear weapons.