Reuters: A senior Iranian official dismissed as a “joke” a U.S. plan to set up a missile interceptor system in Europe to counter threats from Iran.
Iran calls U.S. missile interceptor plan a “joke”
Kuwait opposes military strike against Iran
AFP: US ally Kuwait said on Sunday it opposes any military strike against its Gulf neighbour Iran, and called for a negotiated settlement of the standoff over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iranian flow of weapons increasing, officials say
Washington Post: Iran has increased arms shipments to both Iraq’s Shiite extremists and Afghanistan’s Taliban in recent weeks in an apparent attempt to pressure American and other Western troops operating in its two strategic neighbors, according to senior U.S. and European officials.
Iran says detained US-Iranians have confessed
AFP: Iran said on Sunday that several US-Iranians detained on accusations linked to spying “have confessed” as it warned the United States not to interfere in their cases.
Iran arming Taliban against West, says Blair
Daily Telegraph: Tony Blair yesterday accused Iran of arming Taliban fighters in Afghanistan in order to stir “chaos” and inflict more casualties on Western troops.
“Temporary marriage” idea draws female fire in Iran
Reuters: Iran’s interior minister faced criticism from women activists on Saturday after advocating the practice of temporary marriage as a way to meet the needs of young people in the Islamic state, which bans extramarital sex.
Ahmadinejad: Israel will be destroyed
AP: Iran’s hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Sunday said the world would witness the destruction of Israel soon, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
U.S. urges Swiss banks to steer clear of Iran
Reuters: A U.S. anti-terrorism official warned Swiss banks not to do business with Iran on Saturday, saying Iranian officials sought to conceal their identity in deals designed to fund Iran’s uranium enrichment program.
US urges stronger sanctions against Iran
AFP: US Defence Secretary Robert Gates called on the international community Saturday to unite behind stronger sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, warning that a military solution “is in no one’s interest.”
Iran sees progress in talks on India gas pipeline
Reuters: Iran, India and Pakistan have narrowed their differences over a planned $7 billion natural gas pipeline in talks in Tehran this week, a senior Iranian official was quoted as saying on Friday.
