Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 07 – Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has cancelled his visit to the country’s central province of Markazi.
Ahmadinejad postpones visit to Markazi Province
EU calls on Iran to release detained doctors
Reuters: European Union president France called on Iran on Wednesday to release immediately two Iranian doctors who have been detained by Tehran for more than a month.
World powers mulling fresh Iran sanctions: US, Britain
AFP: Six world powers grappling with Iran's over its suspect nuclear drive agreed Wednesday they have "no choice" but to prepare new UN sanctions against Tehran, the United States and Britain said.
EU exports to Iran rising despite sanctions
Reuters: European Union exports to Iran are on the rise again after a three-year decline, despite United Nations sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program, figures from the EU's statistics office Eurostat show.
Iran blames U.S. for failures in Iraq
Reuters: A senior Iranian diplomat on Wednesday rejected U.S. charges that Iran was trying to undermine stability in Iraq and accused the United States of trying to blame Tehran for its own failures there.
Major powers consider new U.N. Iran sanctions: U.S.
Reuters: Major powers agreed to consider a fourth U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran because of its refusal to freeze sensitive nuclear work, the U.S. State Department said on Wednesday.
Nations weighing new Iran sanctions: US official
AP: The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany agreed Wednesday to begin considering new sanctions on Iran after it failed to accept an incentives package meant to defuse the dispute over its nuclear program, a U.S. official said.
Merkel calls for firms’ restraint in Iran deals
Reuters: Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday called on German firms to show some sensitivity in their dealings with Iran, following Israel's criticism of a German company's gas plant deal.
US seeks ‘punitive’ measures against Iran
AFP: The United States on Wednesday called for "punitive" measures against Iran over its reponse to the international offer to persuade it to freeze its nuclear programme.
Powers agree to seek new Iran sanctions: UK
Reuters: Major powers have agreed to seek new sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, but informal contact between the European Union and Iran will go on, Britain said on Wednesday.
