AP: Iranian officials said Saturday that U.N. Security Council debates on new sanctions over the country’s nuclear program would be illegal and fresh sanctions would undermine global security.
Iran slams UN sanctions meeting
Iraq should tell Iran to stop war supplies – Bush
Reuters: U.S. President George W. Bush said on Saturday the Iraqi government should use a visit by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to tell Tehran to stop arming Iraqi militias and to insist on “breathing space” to let democracy develop.
Iran to boycott Paris book fair
AFP: Iran said on Saturday it is boycotting this year’s Paris book fair in protest at Israel being invited as guest of honour, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Iran brushes off new UN sanctions threat
AFP: Iran on Saturday brushed off the prospect of new UN Security Council sanctions over its controversial nuclear programme, saying such measures would have no effect on its defiance of the world body.
Shiite cleric: Don’t sacrifice Lebanon for Iran’s ambitions
Ya Libnan: Free Shiite movement leader Sheikh Mohammad Al-Haj Hassan urged the Lebanonization of the decisions of the Iranian and Syrian backed opposition.
Analysis: Russia, others eye Iran ties
UPI: While it has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy since the 1979 Iranian Islamic revolution to contain and isolate Iran, Washington’s increasingly factious relations with Moscow and record-high oil prices are beginning to ripple through the relations of the five Caspian nations, producing several developments that all point to the increasing failure of Washington’s containment policy against Tehran.
U.N. council vote on Iran sanctions delayed again
Reuters: France and Britain have again delayed a U.N. Security Council vote on a third round of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program in an effort to win over skeptics, diplomats said on Friday.
CNOOC, Iran deal kept under wraps
UPI: Details of a deal between China National Offshore Oil Corp. and Pars Oil and Gas Co. on the North Pars field are being kept under wraps to avoid scrutiny.
World banks are warned against doing business with Iran
New York Sun: In a move that could cripple Iran’s banking sector, the world’s premier anti-money-laundering body warned its 34 member states yesterday to advise their banks of the risks of doing business with Iranian banks, citing worries about the Islamic nation’s financing of terrorism.
Iran offers Iraq $1 billion loan before Ahmadinejad visit
Reuters: Iran is offering a $1 billion loan to Iraq for projects to be handled by Iranian firms, an Iranian official said on Friday, two days before a landmark visit by Iran’s president to Baghdad.
