The Times: Iran and the European Union were yesterday locked in a fierce public dispute over Tehrans nuclear ambitions, which threatened to plunge the regime into open conflict with the international community.
West takes hard line on Iran’s nuclear ambitions
Islamist militias gaining in strength
The Guardian: Basra has not been beset by the levels of violence seen in Baghdad and the Sunni triangle but the relative calm that has held since the fall of Saddam Hussein is now under threat, say residents and diplomats.
Australia backs UN action on Iran
AP: Australia has added its voice to nations calling for Iran to be reported to the United Nations Security Council for breaches of international nuclear safeguards.
Rice Outlines Next Steps in Iran Showdown
Time: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice believes U.S. and European diplomatic efforts will soon bear fruit in the form of international pressure on Iran to desist from its nuclear program. In a wide-ranging interview with TIME on Monday, the secretary of state indicated that Washington is confident of carrying the support of a majority of the 35 members of the board governing the International Atomic Energy Agency …
Rumsfeld Warns Iran Not to ‘Overplay Hand’
Voice of America: U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has warned Iran not to try to increase its influence in southern Iraq beyond what local people will tolerate. The warning came one day after tension in the main southern Iraqi city, Basra, caused a riot and a clash between British and Iraqi forces.
Iran warns it could quit nuclear treaty, issues oil threat
AFP: Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani warned Tuesday that Tehran could quit the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if it is subjected to the “language of force” in a stand-off over its nuclear programme.
Iran has no fear of UN Security Council: Ahmadinejad
AFP: Iran has no fear of being referred to the UN Security Council and will not change its nuclear policy, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted on state television Monday.
Iran will not back down in nuclear stand-off: Khamenei
AFP: Iran will “not surrender to any sort of pressure and threat”, supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared Tuesday, as the country faced the threat of being referred to the UN Security Council over its nuclear programme.
Blair and Straw split by Iran nuclear crisis
Daily Telegraph: A serious rift has opened between Tony Blair and Jack Straw over whether to retain the threat of military action against Iran if it refuses to halt its nuclear programme.
Straw rules out war over Teheran’s nuclear plan
Daily Telegraph: Britain ruled out military action to halt Iran’s nuclear programme yesterday on the eve of a diplomatic battle by the West to take Teheran to the United Nations Security Council for possible political and economic sanctions.
