Reuters: China pulled out of a meeting this week at which world powers were to discuss further action against Iran in protest against the U.S. Congress’ plan to honor the Dalai Lama, the State Department said on Monday.

Reuters: The European Union instructed experts on Monday to study further possible sanctions on Iran unless its halts nuclear activities the West suspects are aimed at making atomic bombs.

Press Association: European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg are expected to issue fresh warnings to Burma and Iran.

AP: The United State alone cannot force Iran to give up its nuclear ambitions, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday. Gates called Iran as “an ambitious and fanatical theocracy,” and said he has yet to find “the elusive Iranian moderate,” according to remarks prepared for delivery at the Jewish Institute for National Security Affairs.

CNN: Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran Tuesday morning for a visit that is expected to include discussions about Iran’s nuclear program.

Reuters: The United Nations must introduce further sanctions against Iran if Tehran does not respond to U.N. demands over its nuclear programme, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday.

Bloomberg: Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he’ll go ahead with a trip to Iran, shrugging off reports of an assassination plot in Tehran.

AP: When President Vladimir Putin visits Tehran this week, he will be closely watched for any sign he has moved closer to launching the nuclear reactor Russia is building for Iran.