Reuters: Six world powers have agreed that a new U.N. sanctions resolution on Iran would name two more Iranian banks but not put compulsory restrictions on doing business with them, Western diplomats said on Wednesday.
UN resolution to name 2 Iran banks-diplomats
Iran snubbed US protest over ship incident: official
AFP: Iran has not acknowledged Washington’s protest over an incident between Iranian and US naval forces because it did not use the term “Persian Gulf”, the state news agency IRNA reported on Wednesday.
3,000 Iran election hopefuls banned
Press Association: About 3,000 prospective candidates have been disqualified from running in the upcoming parliamentary elections in Iran.
Iran says Turkmenistan not to be trusted
Reuters: Iran may review energy ties with Turkmenistan after the neighbouring country last month cut gas exports to the Islamic Republic, an Iranian official warned on Wednesday, saying Ashgabat could “not be trusted”.
Iran vows to follow nuclear path despite sanctions
Reuters: Iranian leaders vowed on Wednesday to press on with Tehran’s disputed nuclear work regardless of any new U.N. sanctions, one day after world powers agreed the outline of a new resolution.
Medvedev says would support U.N. and Iran
Washington Times: Russian presidential heir apparent Dmitry Medvedev, in his first major campaign speech yesterday, said he would seek to boost the power of the United Nations and would not sever Moscow’s ties to “problem states” like Iran, despite Western pressure.
Tehran to face increased U.N. sanctions
Washington Times: The world’s nuclear powers agreed yesterday to expand U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program in a compromise Security Council draft resolution that is expected to stop short of imposing economic penalties.
Six powers back U.N. draft on Iran
Washington Post: The United States and five other major powers agreed yesterday on a new draft U.N. resolution on Iran, but the compromise incorporates weakened language that calls only for “vigilance” or “monitoring” of financial and military institutions without most of the tough economic sanctions sought by the Bush administration, according to European officials familiar with its text.
Agreement on proposal for new Iran sanctions
New York Times: The worlds leading powers agreed Tuesday on a new set of sanctions against Iran to present as a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council, but they did not announce details of the sanctions, which are designed to induce Tehran to give up its nuclear program.
Egypt, Iran presidents talk directly for first time
Reuters: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad have discussed regional issues by telephone, the first direct talks between the two leaders.
