Wall Street Journal: As Iran prepares to hold nuclear talks this weekend with Europe and the U.S., economic sanctions are crimping Tehran's oil industry — but they haven't broken it.
Sanctions fail to cripple Iran’s oil industry
U.S. Senate panel approves new Iran sanctions
Reuters: The U.S. Senate Banking Committee overwhelmingly approved a bill on Thursday that would expand trade and economic sanctions in another attempt to prod Iran to step back from suspected nuclear weapons production and alleged support for terrorist activities.
Senior U.S. deal-maker is new Iran envoy
Reuters: He helped steer talks with Libya that led to a resumption of U.S. ties with Tripoli after nearly a quarter century and now senior diplomat William Burns is Washington's main interlocutor with Iran.
U.S. considers opening a diplomatic post in Iran
New York Times: The Bush administration is considering establishing an American diplomatic presence in Iran for the first time since relations were severed during the 444-day occupation of the American Embassy in Tehran nearly three decades ago, European and American officials said on Thursday.
Rice to receive briefing on Iran talks in UAE
AFP: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be briefed on a US-Iran meeting on the nuclear standoff when she stops in the United Arab Emirates on her way to Asia next week, her spokesman said Thursday.
Iran-linked attacks subside in Iraq
USA TODAY: The number of deadly armor-piercing roadside bombs, which the U.S. government has linked to Iran, has dropped by nearly 70% in the past three months, the U.S. military says.
Iran briefs ally Syria on standoff with West
AP: Iran's foreign minister briefed Syria's president Thursday on the international standoff over his country's nuclear program.
Sweetening the pot for Tehran
Washington Post: President Bush's decision to shift a long-held stance and allow a top U.S. diplomat to attend nuclear talks with Iran follows a less-noticed but critical policy change last month.
Rice says unclear if Iran will respond positively
Reuters: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday she did not know if Iran would respond positively this weekend to an offer made by major powers to suspend sensitive nuclear work in exchange for incentives.
French deputies back Iranian opposition group
AFP: French deputies presented exiled Iranian opposition leader Maryam Rajavi with a declaration calling for democratic change in Iran in a ceremony at France's National Assembly Wednesday.
