AFP: Nine Iranians held in Iraq on suspicion of aiding the anti-US insurgency will be freed within a week, but 11 others deemed a security threat will remain in captivity, the US military said on Wednesday.
Nine Iranians to be freed within week: US military
Iranian nuclear claim shows ‘defiance’: Washington
AFP: Iran has shown again it intends to press ahead with its nuclear program, in defiance of the world community, by announcing its latest move on uranium enrichment, a senior US official said Wednesday.
Iran urges India against closer ties with US
AFP: A senior Iranian official urged New Delhi not to drift too close to Washington, emphasising his country’s wish to be a major energy supplier to a “friendly” India.
EU’s Solana suggests ‘international enrichment centre’
AFP: EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, leading talks to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium, said Thursday that creating an “international enrichment centre” could help resolve nuclear disputes.
More Iran talks set ahead of key U.N. report
Reuters: Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will hold more talks on Thursday to resolve doubts about its nuclear work, officials said, a week ahead of an IAEA report key to deciding on any tougher sanctions against Tehran.
Saudi king calls on Iran to avoid escalation
Reuters: Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah has urged Iran to avoid escalation in its standoff with the West over its nuclear program and called for a solution that would allow Tehran to use atomic energy for peaceful purposes.
Oil fuels Irans confidence on nuclear ambitions
The Times: Iran is giving not an inch in the stand-off over its nuclear ambitions. Two reports next week are likely to accuse it of breaking international agreements, but with oil at $98 a barrel boosting its confidence, it is not showing any inclination to yield.
China tells Iran to heed international pressure
Reuters: China on Thursday urged Iran to heed rising international worry about its nuclear ambitions, saying Beijing would seek to work with Europe and the United Nations to defuse the crisis but holding its tongue on any new sanctions.
Iran leader urges police to keep up social vice crackdown
AFP: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Wednesday urged the police to keep up its crackdown on social vice that has also targeted un-Islamic dress.
US asks Greece to take measures against Iranian bank
AFP: The United States has asked Greece to take measures against the local subsidiary of Iran’s Bank Saderat which it suspects of funding Islamist militants, the American embassy in Athens said Wednesday.
