Reuters: China is slowly and reluctantly falling in line with Russia and four Western powers by backing the idea of new U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, but Beijing wants any new steps to be weak.
ANALYSIS – New Iran sanctions: A question of when, not if
Analysis: Allawi win could curb Iran’s influence
AP: The surprisingly strong election showing by a secular, nationalist coalition in Iraq has provided a sudden opening for the mostly Sunni Arab world to curtail Iranian influence in Iraq.
Russia does not rule out sanctions against Iran
Reuters: President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday he still supported diplomacy to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program but sanctions should not be ruled out.
Cannon calls for additional sanctions against Iran
Montreal Gazette: There is "little choice but to pursue additional sanctions against Iran" to pressure that country to halt its nuclear-enrichment activities, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said yesterday.
Ayad Allawi’s bloc wins most seats in Iraqi parliamentary elections
Washington Post: Nearly three weeks after Iraq's elections, the coalition of former prime minister Ayad Allawi emerged with the most seats in the parliament Friday but fell far short of a majority.
Iran reaches out to neighbors in new year summit
AP: Iran used an ancient new year celebration to reach out to Afghanistan, Iraq and other neighbors on Saturday, hosting them at a summit meeting that projected Iranian leadership in the strategic region straddling the Middle East and Central Asia.
Canada says G-8 may act on Iran, prefers UN sanctions
Bloomberg: Group of Eight foreign ministers meeting next week in Canada will consider whether to unilaterally impose sanctions aimed at Iran’s nuclear development program should the United Nations fail to act.
UN tells Iran to end Eutelsat satellite jamming
Reuters: The United Nations' leading communications agency called on Iran on Friday to end jamming of foreign satellite broadcasts, which is banned under its global regulations.
Secular challenger claims victory in Iraq election
AP: A jubilant Ayad Allawi claimed victory for his secular, anti-Iranian coalition as final parliamentary returns Friday showed him edging out the bloc of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who angrily vowed to fight the results.
NATO urges missile defense pact, cites Iran threat
Reuters: NATO states should agree at a summit this year to make missile defense systems against states including Iran an alliance mission and look at every opportunity to cooperate on this with Russia, the head of NATO says.
