Reuters: Senior officials from world powers held a conference call on Monday to discuss Iran's response to a package of incentives to curb its nuclear activities, said the U.S. State Department.
Major powers hold conference call on Iran response
EU’s Solana says nuclear talks with Iran ‘difficult’
AFP: EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Monday said he was not too optimistic about prospects for a breakthrough with Iran on its suspect nuclear programme, saying: "It's difficult."
Obama: Harsh U.S. rhetoric on Iran boosting oil
Reuters: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Monday that harsh U.S. rhetoric toward Iran appeared to be contributing to the surge in oil prices and that a calmer approach might help soothe the markets.
U.S. holds navy exercise after Iran comments on Gulf
Reuters: The U.S. Navy said on Monday it was carrying out an exercise in the Gulf, days after vowing that Iran will not be allowed to block the waterway which carries crude from the world's largest oil-exporting region.
Ahmadinejad: Iran will not renounce nuclear rights
AFP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted on Monday that Iran would not give up its nuclear rights, dismissing calls for Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Iran has resumed A-bomb project, says West
Daily Telegraph: Iran has resumed work on constructing highly sophisticated equipment that nuclear experts say is primarily used for building atomic weapons, according to the latest intelligence reports received by Western diplomats.
Medvedev: Russia wants signals from Iran on nuclear deal
AFP: Russia will push for dialogue with Iran on its nuclear programme but expects reciprocal signals from Tehran, President Dmitry Medvedev told President Bush on Monday, according to a Russian official.
Bush, Medvedev united on Iran, divided on missiles
Bloomberg: President George W. Bush and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said they will keep working jointly to block Iran's uranium enrichment efforts while indicating they made no progress on bridging differences over U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system in Europe.
Oil hovers near $144, Iran sends mixed signals
Reuters: Oil was steady around $144 a barrel on Monday, holding near last week's record high after Iran reasserted its right to pursue uranium enrichment, keeping alive political tensions in the Middle East and adding to worries about oil supplies.
Oil prices ease after Iran offers talks
AFP: Oil prices eased in Asian trading Monday after Iran offered over the weekend to negotiate on its nuclear drive, dealers said.
