AFP: Disappointed European leaders seem to be torn between pursuing efforts to engage Iran and calls for a harder line over Tehran’s nuclear aims, to bring them closer to the US stance.
European Union (EU) foreign ministers, gathered for back-to-work talks in the Netherlands this weekend, did little to disguise their deep concern over Iran, which Washington wants hauled before the UN Security Council.
Disappointed EU torn over how to handle Iran
Memories of a slaughter in Iran
TORONTO STAR: Payam lives alone and never talks about the past. The 46-year-old Iranian with gentle brown eyes and a quiet smile is haunted by the smell of fear and death. Now working as an engineer in England, he walks with special soles in his shoes because his feet have been damaged by torture.
Key EU powers weigh bringing Iran nuclear issue to UN panel
Reuters: VALKENBURG, the Netherlands — Major European powers were discussing yesterday whether to take Iran to the UN Security Council amid frustration at its failure to cooperate fully with UN efforts to make sure it is not secretly trying to develop atomic weapons.
A War’s Hidden Hands; As Americans and Iraqis slaughter each other, another player aims to reap big
Newsweek – Sep. 6: Six months ago, Abu Sajjad was rolling in cash. His cloth shop is right in front of the Imam Ali shrine, a great location to attract pilgrims visiting this holiest of Shiite sanctuaries. The faithful who flocked into Najaf from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan bought hundreds of yards of fabric to take home as souvenirs. Now Abu Sajjad looks at his storefront, riddled with bullets and shrapnel, and shakes his head. “Why did this happen?” he asks.
In nuclear shadow, EU reviews Iran ties
AP: The European Union said Friday that Iran’s nuclear program has cast a shadow over its relations with Europe, which has been at pains to forge closer trade and other ties in recent years.
“We want to send out a very strong signal that we mean business,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Ben Bot, whose country holds the EU presidency. “We cannot accept … the development of weapons grade uranium” by Iran.
Iran hardliners demand clampdown on women’s dress
Reuters: About 500 hardline vigilantes have taken to the streets of Tehran, demanding authorities crack down on women who wear colourful headscarves and figure-hugging coats which they denounce as “prostitution”.
Four forced to watch their fathers hanging
Iran Focus: Tehran, Sep. 3 – A man by the name of Mohammad N. was hanged in public in the city of Arak, (central Iran) on Sunday, August 29.
Mohammads four young children were brought to the scene to watch the execution of their father.
EU anxious about Irans nuclear non-compliance
Iran Focus: Brussels, Sep. 3 – As he arrived in the Netherlands to attend a meeting of the EU three today, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the EU was concerned over Iran ignoring its nuclear obligations. We have all been perplexed and saddened that the Iranian government has not completed all the tasks it said it would, Straw noted.
Straw says EU upset with Iran on nukes
Reuters: European Union foreign ministers, including Jack Straw, have voiced disenchantment at Iran’s failure to cooperate more fully with U.N. efforts to ensure its nuclear programme is not a front for developing atomic weapons.
“We have all been perplexed and saddened that the Iranian government has not completed all the tasks it said it would,” Straw said on arrival for an EU meeting in the Netherlands.
Iran acknowledges plans to process uranium
Associated Press: Iran is acknowledging it’s planning to process tons of raw uranium that could be used to make nuclear weapons.
A U-N report obtained Wednesday says Iran plans to enrich 40 tons of uranium which could be used to make nuclear warheads or to generate electricity. The report doesn’t specify what Iran plans to do with the processed uranium.
