Reuters: French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Wednesday he would refuse to greet any world leader who refused to recognise Israel — a remark apparently ruling out any face-to-face meetings with Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Sarkozy attacks Iran for its stance on Israel
Iran said to test faster centrifuges with uranium
Reuters: Iran has introduced small amounts of uranium gas into advanced centrifuges it is testing at its main nuclear complex, diplomats said, in a further step towards gaining the means to develop atom bombs if it later chooses.
Rice hopes U.N. resolution on Iran will pass soon
Reuters: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Wednesday she hoped the United Nations would vote within weeks to slap more sanctions on Iran and she urged allies to be more aggressive in punishing Tehran.
Rice to attend Iraq security conference in Kuwait in April
AFP: US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday she will attend an international conference in Kuwait in April to promote Iraq’s security that involves Iran and other neighbors.
Iran oil official sees prices sliding before Nov
Reuters: A senior Iranian oil official said in remarks published on Thursday that oil prices would slide before the U.S. presidential election in November but rise after that.
Iran’s oil bourse will start operations Feb. 17, IRNA reports
Bloomberg: Iran’s oil exchange will start operations on Feb. 17, the official Iranian news agency IRNA said, citing the country’s oil minister.
Iran sanctions draft to be revised
Reuters: Key world powers will revise a draft resolution on new sanctions against Iran over its atomic program and call a vote after a U.N. nuclear report on Iran is issued, Britain’s U.N. envoy said on Wednesday.
Iran summons Danish envoy over Prophet Muhammad cartoon reprint
Bloomberg: Iran summoned Denmark’s envoy to protest the reprinting of a caricature of the prophet Muhammad that triggered riots and the torching of Danish embassies two years ago, the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Iran reinstates some banned candidates
AP: Iran’s hard-line constitutional watchdog said Wednesday it has reinstated more than 280 candidates for parliament races next month, but reformists said many remain banned and the move is not enough to ensure a fair election.
Iran testing advanced uranium centrifuges: diplomat
AFP: Iran has begun testing advanced second-generation centrifuges, defying UN Security Council demands to end its uranium enrichment activities, Western diplomats said Wednesday.
