The Guardian: The Iranian government has proposed the creation of an international consortium to enrich uranium on its own soil as a way of defusing the tense standoff over its nuclear programme.
Iran calls for uranium enrichment on its soil, with the world’s help
No talk of Iran blockade: US speaker
AFP: US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Thursday denied reports that she had discussed a US naval blockade of Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
Rice warns of more sanctions on Iran
Reuters: The United States will aggressively impose more sanctions on Iran as long as it refuses to give up sensitive nuclear work and uses the world's financial system for "terrorism," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.
Iran nuclear: Italy backs fresh sanctions says Foreign Minister
AKI: Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has said that Italy would back key European states and support further sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
Iran gets shirty over ties
AFP: A top Iranian customs official has called for imports of ties to be banned because they are "against Iranian culture," the Fars news agency reported on Thursday, amid a crackdown on unIslamic dress.
Petraeus terms military action in Iran “last resort”
Reuters: The United States should increase diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran to counter its rising influence, while retaining possible military action as a "last resort," a top U.S. military officer said on Thursday.
Rice defends Bush policy on Iran as ‘successful’
AFP: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday defended as "successful" the US administration's policy on Iran after Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama criticized its approach.
Obama backs off from pledge to talk with Iran
The Guardian: Barack Obama has begun to edge away from his offer to pursue talks with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after being hammered by Republicans as an "appeaser".
Petraeus: Troops in Iraq help blunt Iran threat
AP: Army Gen. David Petraeus, who is to assume control of U.S. forces in the Middle East, says that a continued U.S. presence in Iraq is more likely to blunt, rather than inflame, Iran's growing influence in the region.
Rice says Iran must make “right choice”
Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iran on Wednesday that if it did not make the "right choice" and abandon sensitive nuclear work it faced more punitive action from the international community.
