AFP: Italy should use it's "good offices" with Iran, including their trade relationship, to sway Tehran over its suspect nuclear program and its role in Afghanistan, a top US lawmaker said Monday.

Reuters: The head of French oil company Total SA said on Monday no new contract for the second phase of development of the South Pars gas field in Iran would be signed before the Iranian New Year, which begins on March 21.

Reuters: Iran's OPEC governor said the oil producers' grouping may decide to cut output again next month if crude prices fall further, an Iranian newspaper reported on Monday.

Bloomberg: Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder’s meetings with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other officials were criticized today by a German Jewish leader and members of Schroeder’s own Social Democratic Party.

Reuters: India's Reliance Industries will import about 25 percent less crude oil on contract from Iran in 2009 in favour of cheaper oil from outside the Middle East, industry sources said Monday.

Reuters: France, set to open a military base in the United Arab Emirates this year, said on Sunday that Iran should take part in a dialogue with Gulf Arab countries to ally their fears over its nuclear programme.

Reuters: Oil shipments from OPEC producers Kuwait and Iran have been disrupted due to poor weather in the world's top exporting region, industry sources said on Sunday.

Reuters: Bahrain has criticised as irresponsible reported remarks by an Iranian official that questioned the Gulf Arab kingdom's sovereignty and caused a diplomatic furore in the region.