New York Times: The United States gave its explicit support
on Friday to a European proposal to defuse the West’s confrontation with Iran over what is suspected of being its nuclear weapons program, while in Tehran the Iranian government received the proposal and said it would study its contents before commenting. “I can say that we very much support the E.U. 3’s negotiating effort,” said R. Nicholas Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, referring to the proposal put together by Britain, France and Germany under the auspices of the European Union.
U.S. Supports European Offer to Iran on Its Nuclear Program
Some Bombs Used in Iraq Are Made in Iran, U.S. Says
New York Times: Many of the new, more sophisticated roadside bombs used to attack American and government forces in Iraq have been designed in Iran and shipped in from there, United States military and intelligence officials said Friday, raising the prospect of increased foreign help for Iraqi insurgents. American commanders say the deadlier bombs could become more common as insurgent bomb makers learn the techniques to make the weapons themselves in Iraq.
Fischer warns Iran not to escalate nuclear crisis
AFP: German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer called on Iran to renounce plans to resume sensitive nuclear activities and warned the Islamic Republic not to escalate the crisis, in an interview set to appear Saturday. Speaking with daily newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, Fischer said Germany, France and Britain took Iran’s intentions to break the seal on a uranium conversion facility in Isfahan very seriously.
EU calls for release of Iran dissident
Reuters: European Union president Britain on Friday called on Iran to free hunger-striking journalist Akbar Ganji, saying he was a prisoner of conscience, said a statement by the British embassy in Tehran. Ganji, an outspoken critic of Iran’s clerical leadership, was jailed for six years in 2001 for articles he wrote linking officials to the murders of dissidents.
US sceptical over EU approach to Iran: French diplomat
AFP: The United States has “enormous scepticism” over Europe’s approach to Iran’s nuclear programme, even if it has publicly backed the efforts, a French diplomat said Friday. “I have to say that the United States has followed our negotiations with enormous scepticism, thinking that it will lead nowhere and that we are being duped by the Iranians,” said the diplomat, who was briefing journalists on condition of anonymity.
Iran rejects ‘unacceptable’ EU nuclear offer
AFP: Iran on Friday rejected a broad package of trade and technology incentives offered by the European Union if it agreed to abandon all nuclear fuel work, risking an international crisis. “The proposals are unacceptable,” nuclear negotiator Hossein Moussavian said, describing them as a “clear violation” of agreements between Iran and the European Union. “They negate Iran’s inalienable right,” he said.
Iran to answer EU nuclear proposals by Sunday
Reuters: Iran said on Friday it would respond in the next two days to the European Union’s proposals for economic incentives in return for a suspension of nuclear fuel work, a senior nuclear negotiator told Reuters. “We will review this proposal today and tomorrow, and will definitely give our answer by Sunday,” said Hossein Mousavian. Asked if Iran would still resume work at a uranium conversion plant near the city of Isfahan, he said: “Yes, definitely.”
8 Nobel laureates demand release of jailed journalist in Iran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 05 Eight winners of the Nobel prize called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release jailed journalist Akbar Ganji, currently on day 55 of a hunger strike in protest to his detention. Ganjis physical state is said
to have deteriorated to a critical state and his wife said that she had been prevented from seeing him for the past two days.
8 Nobel laureates demand release of jailed journalist in Iran
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 05 Eight winners of the Nobel prize called on Iran to immediately and unconditionally release jailed journalist Akbar Ganji, currently on day 55 of a hunger strike in protest to his detention. Ganjis physical state is said
to have deteriorated to a critical state and his wife said that she had been prevented from seeing him for the past two days.
Senior Iran cleric says talks with EU were doomed to fail
Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Aug. 05 Iran will not bow down to European and United States demands to cease its nuclear activities, a powerful hard-line cleric said during Tehrans Friday prayers sermon. I tell them [the U.S. and the Europeans”> that no matter how much bribe you give Iran to abdicate its legal rights, the Iranian government and our
people will not give up their inalienable rights under any circumstances, Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, who chairs Irans powerful Guardian Council, said.
