Washington Times: Last week’s U.S. National Intelligence Estimate states, with “high confidence,” that Iran quit trying to get a nuclear bomb in late 2003. That’s exactly the opposite of what the NIE reported just two years ago, when it claimed Iran’s ruling mullahs were still developing nuclear weapons.
All mixed up over Iran
Forget the mullahs it’s time to engage with Iran’s opposition
The Scotsman: Britain must lift its ban on the country’s resistance, says LORD WADDINGTON, and strive for sanctions against the regime.
With spies like these . . .
Washington Post: The new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran appears to rely heavily on notes from a discussion between Iranian military officials involved in that country’s nuclear weapons development program. What if, instead of such easily manipulated documentary evidence, the CIA’s National Clandestine Service had been able to recruit a spy at the highest reaches of the Iranian government, someone who could just tell us what the country’s nuclear capabilities and plans were? It wouldn’t have made any difference.
Kosovo and Iran dominate Brown’s first Brussels visit
Guardian Unlimited: Gordon Brown will concentrate on foreign policy on his first, brief, official visit to Brussels as prime minister.
UK govt loses bid to keep Iran opposition group outlawed: ministry
AFP: The British government lost a bid Friday to keep an Iranian opposition group on its list of proscribed terrorist organisations, the Home Office announced.
UK court denies government appeal vs end to Iran opposition group ban
Dow Jones: A U.K. court Friday refused the government’s appeal against the court’s order to the home secretary to lift a six-year ban on an Iranian opposition group, taking the group one step closer to official legitimacy in the U.K., a lawyer assisting the legal team said.
EU leaders renew sanctions warning to Iran
Reuters: Leaders of the European Union reiterated on Friday their support for possible additional U.N. sanctions against Iran if it fails to give up nuclear enrichment work and repeated an offer of support if it did so.
Sinopec agrees deal to triple Iran crude imports
Reuters: China’s top refiner Sinopec Corp will nearly triple its imports of Iranian crude next year, increasing Beijing’s reliance on the OPEC producer that faces Western political pressure over its nuclear programme.
Iran asked to postpone talks with US: State Department
AFP: US and Iranian experts postponed a meeting to discuss Iraq’s security at Iran’s request but the two sides will arrange a new meeting, the US State Department said Thursday.
China urges 2-track approach on Iran
AP: China wants a two-track approach in trying to resolve the dispute with Iran over its nuclear program a revitalized diplomatic initiative along with a new U.N. resolution on sanctions, Beijing’s U.N. ambassador said Thursday,
