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.
U.S. holds navy exercise after Iran comments on Gulf
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.
Iran will close Strait of Hormuz if attacked, Fars reports
Bloomberg: Iran will close the Strait of Hormuz, through which the bulk of Middle East oil is shipped, if the country is attacked, state-run Fars news agency reported, citing a military commander.
Germ warfare fear over African monkeys taken to Iran
Sunday Times: Hundreds of endangered monkeys are being taken from the African bush and sent to a “secretive” laboratory in Iran for scientific experiments.
Iran says its nuclear policy has not changed
New York Times: Iran’s nuclear policy has not changed, an Iranian government spokesman said Saturday in Tehran, confirming that Iran would not comply with Security Council resolutions requiring it to stop enriching uranium.
