CNN: Iraq finally has names for its top jobs — more than four months after its historic general election.
Iraq parliament elects new leaders
Iran says will not halt oil exports
Reuters: Iran will not cut its oil exports in a dispute with the West over its nuclear programme, Iranian Oil Minister Kazem Vaziri told Reuters on Saturday.
Iran says has “basic” enrichment deal with Russia
Reuters: Iran’s ambassador to the U.N. nuclear watchdog said on Saturday that Iran had a basic deal to enrich uranium in a joint venture in Russia but said details were still being worked out, Iranian state radio reported.
Bush and Iran
The Wall Street Journal – Review & Outlook: Bill Clinton often complained that history had denied him the sort of historic challenge — a Great Depression or war — that might have made his Presidency great. We suspect that, after five tumultuous years, President Bush has more than once wished that he could have been so lucky.
Bolton: Iran will test U.N. efficacy
Knight Ridder Newspapers: The U.N. Security Council’s impending showdown over Iran’s nuclear ambitions is a critical test of the effectiveness of the world body, United Nations Ambassador John R. Bolton said yesterday.
U.S. wants Europe to isolate Iran if U.N. balks
New York Times: The Bush administration called today for Russia and the countries of Europe to impose their own penalties on Iran over its suspected nuclear arms program if no agreement on sanctions can be reached soon at the United Nations Security Council.
Russia rejects U.S. appeal on Iran
Washington Post: The United States appealed anew to Russia yesterday to stop the sale of air-defense missile systems to Iran, but Moscow reiterated its intention to proceed with the deal.
Shiite alliance agrees on nominee for PM
AP: The Shiite alliance nominated a tough-talking Shiite politician, Jawad al-Maliki, as prime minister Friday in a move that breaks the long impasse over forming a new government aimed at pulling Iraq out of its sectarian strife.
U.S. says Russia must freeze arms deals with Iran
Reuters: Russia must stop any arms deals with Iran and other nations must bar the sale of dual-use technologies to Tehran to put pressure on Iran to abandon its nuclear program, a senior U.S. official said on Friday.
Iran shells Kurd positions in Iraq-Kurd official
Reuters: Iranian forces shelled Iranian Kurdish guerrilla positions inside mountainous northern Iraq early Friday morning to repel an attack, an Iraqi Kurdish official said.
