AFP: Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem was to arrive in Tehran Monday for talks with top officials, a day after the Iranian national security chief visited Damascus, the state news agency IRNA reported.
Syrian foreign minister due in Tehran
Iran, Belarus sign defence agreement
AFP: Iran and its top European ally Belarus on Monday signed an agreement on defence cooperation, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Iran’s guards start wargame to test missiles
Reuters: Iran’s Revolutionary Guards launched war-games in central Iran on Monday and said they would test two models of home-made missiles, state radio reported.
Iran bars 38 U.N. IAEA inspectors
AP: Iran said Monday it has barred 38 members of a U.N. nuclear inspection team from entering the country, in what appeared to be retaliation for sanctions imposed last month over its contentious atomic program.
Irans leader stands by nuclear plans; military to hold exercises
New York Times: Irans internal battle over President Mahmoud Ahmadinejads defiant rhetoric on Irans nuclear program continued to simmer on Sunday, with the president repeating his vow to ignore international sanctions and a moderate daily newspaper warning of Irans increasing isolation.
Chavez: Venezuela will always back Syria, Iran against US ‘madmen’
AFP: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez vowed Sunday that his government would always back US foes Syria and Iran in the face of threats from Washington.
Iran on the defensive: top US official
AFP: The pressure exerted by the United States and the international community on Iran over its nuclear programme has put the Islamic republic on the defensive, a senior US official said Sunday.
EU plans ‘topping up’ of sanctions against Iran
Daily Telegraph: The European Union plans to increase sanctions against Iran’s nuclear programme at a meeting of foreign ministers today.
Iranian report shows fear of sanctions – Le Monde
Reuters: A confidential Iranian government report has highlighted the damaging effects of wide-ranging sanctions against the country if Iran continues its nuclear programme, French newspaper Le Monde reported on its website.
NATO urges Saudi Arabia to join cooperation pact
Reuters: NATO appealed to Saudi Arabia on Sunday to consider entering a cooperation agreement with the Western alliance, citing shared interest in stopping weapons proliferation in an apparent reference to Iran.
