Reuters: Iran denied it had slowed down its nuclear activities and said it planned to install 50,000 centrifuges to enrich uranium over the next five years, a senior Iranian nuclear official said on Wednesday.
Iran says no slowdown in its nuclear work
Iran says it now runs more than 6,000 centrifuges
AP: Iran's nuclear chief says the country has increased the number of centrifuges enriching uranium to 6,000, the latest show of defiance to U.N. demands it halt the enrichment program.
U.S. navy says no sign yet of new Iran naval bases
Reuters: The U.S. navy has no information that Iran has begun construction of planned new naval bases on the eastern approach to the Gulf, a senior commander said on Wednesday.
Iran says moves closer to nuclear plant launch
Reuters: Iran said on Wednesday it had carried out successful tests at its Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant in a step towards its launch.
Gulf official slams Iran stance toward Arabs
AFP: The head of the Gulf Cooperation Council on Tuesday slammed Iran's stance towards its Arab neighbours, particularly Bahrain, despite Tehran's interior minister saying a crisis with the small country was over.
Germany cuts Iran guarantees but exports rise
Reuters: Berlin has significantly cut the value of new credit guarantees it offers firms that do business with Iran, but German exports to the Islamic Republic still rose last year, according to new figures seen by Reuters.
Veteran Mideast envoy Ross named to advise Clinton on Iran strategy
Washington Post: Dennis Ross, a longtime diplomatic troubleshooter, has been appointed as a special adviser to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, with responsibility for developing a strategy for engaging Iran.
Sunni politican calls for full abuse probes
AP: A prominent Sunni politician rallied Tuesday behind a lawmaker accused of running a private terror cell and demanded probes into Shiites and others parliament members suspected of links to violence.
Negotiator picked for post at State Dept.
New York Times: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Monday appointed Dennis B. Ross, a seasoned Middle East negotiator under Republican and Democratic presidents, as her special adviser for the gulf and Southwest Asia, a portfolio that will include Iran.
Three men hanged in Iran’s Evin Prison
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Feb. 23 – Iranian authorities hanged three men in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, state media reported on Monday.
