Reuters: Defense Secretary Robert Gates reaffirmed to the leader of Oman on Saturday that Washington wanted to resolve its disputes with Iran diplomatically, a senior U.S. defense official said.
Gates says U.S. wants diplomacy to solve Iran disputes
Iran rejects nuclear incentives
AP: Iran rejected recent European overtures to halt its uranium enrichment program in return for incentives and vowed Saturday to continue to expand its nuclear program.
Iran refuses to halt nuclear work for incentives
VOA: Iran says it will not halt work on its nuclear activities in exchange for incentives offered by the West.
Iran denies rumors finance minister to quit
Reuters: Iran’s government denied on Saturday speculation the finance minister would be replaced, three weeks after an election brought in a parliament that is expected to be more critical of the country’s economic policies.
Iran to boost nuclear capacity despite pressure
Reuters: Iran said on Saturday it would press ahead with plans to expand its nuclear program, after diplomats in Vienna said Tehran was installing advanced centrifuges in its key uranium enrichment plant.
British fear US commander is beating the drum for Iran strikes
Daily Telegraph: British officials gave warning yesterday that America’s commander in Iraq will declare that Iran is waging war against the US-backed Baghdad government.
Iraq PM reverses course, freezes raids
AP: In a dramatic reversal, Iraq’s prime minister ordered a nationwide freeze Friday on Iraqi raids against Shiite militants, bowing to demands by anti-U.S. cleric Muqtada al-Sadr only one day after promising to expand the crackdown to Baghdad.
Iraqi leader freezes assault on militias
CNN: Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki on Friday ordered his security forces to stop raids on suspected Shiite militia members to “give time to those who are repentant” to lay down their weapons.
US defence chief in Oman for talks with sultan
AFP: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates arrived in Oman on Friday for talks with Sultan Qaboos, the ruler of this key Gulf state which faces Iran across the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Iran vows to reject deal to suspend uranium enrichment
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Apr. 04 – Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Friday that Tehran would reject any new incentives offered to it by world powers in return for it to suspend uranium enrichment, a key demand of the United Nations Security Council.
