National Review Online: The European "solution" to the threat of Iranian atomic bombs bids fair to join the "peace process" as the most boffo running gag in the history of show biz. Every few months, the elegantly dressed diplomatic wizards from London, Paris, and Berlin race across a continent or two to meet with Iranians dressed in turbans and gowns, and after some hours of alleged hard work, they emerge with a new agreement, just like their more numerous counterparts engaged in the peace negotiations.
AFP: US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that Iran's agreement to freeze all uranium enrichment activities was "certainly not the final step" in easing US fears that Tehran seeks a nuclear weapon. "The Iranians agreed to suspend -- but not terminate -- their nuclear weapons program. Our position is that they ought to terminate their nuclear weapons program," said the president.
AFP: Canada, the 2004-5 chair of UN atomic energy agency's Board of Governors, warned Monday it would press the body to inform the Security Council of any violation of a deal to freeze Iran's uranium program. The Canadian position, laid out in a statement by Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew, mirrored the US stance on the agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 30 - The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld a stoning sentence for a woman accused of adultery. Hajieh Esmailvand has been serving prison time in the town of Jolfa (Northwestern Iran) since Jan. 2000 for having an affair with a 17-year-old boy.
Reuters: Iran is prepared to keep uranium enrichment activities frozen as long as nuclear negotiations continue with the EU, but those talks should not last too long, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said Tuesday. "The length of the suspension will only be for the length of the negotiations with the Europeans and the length of negotiations must be rational and not too long," Rohani told a news conference.
Washington Times: Three Iraqi activists called on the United States to delay the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq, but not for the reason advocated by some of their colleagues who worry religious minorities will not participate. They fear a religious party will win the election and impose a theocratic government like Iran's.
AP: The United States is taking a time out from browbeating Iran about its nuclear weapons, giving way - for now, at least - while the Europeans try to sweet-talk Iran's uranium enrichment to a halt. America's rhetorical muscling of Iran, and the Iranians' pugnacious reactions, got the world's attention. But the Europeans' offer of nuclear fuel, trade benefits and security guarantees drew a promise from Iran to suspend enrichment of uranium.
Los Angeles Times: Despite a pledge by Tehran on Monday to suspend all uranium enrichment activities, the United States warned that it reserved the right to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, insisting that the Islamic Republic was trying to build nuclear weapons. A resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board sealed a mid-November deal brokered by Britain, France and Germany for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities and avoid referral to the Security Council, where it could face sanctions.
New York Times: In a defeat for the Bush administration, the 35-country ruling board of the International Atomic Energy Agency passed a mildly worded resolution on Monday welcoming Iran's total freeze on a sensitive part of its nuclear program. The resolution, passed by consensus without a vote, removes the possibility that the group will drag Iran before the United Nations Security Council for possible censure or even sanctions.
Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 29 - A 19-year-old man was sentenced to death yesterday, after being convicted of murder. The young man whose identity has not been announced was found guilty of killing his father in the Iranian capital of Tehran. This latest sentence follows a string of public executions carried out by the Iranian regime in recent days.
USA TODAY: A top U.S. commander is warning Iran and others against thinking they can exploit the U.S. military because its ground troops are fighting two major missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Why the Iranians would want to move against us in an overt manner that would cause us to use our air or naval power against them would be beyond me," ...
Press Association: Iran will be closely monitored to ensure it sticks to an agreement to halt its uranium enrichment programme, Prime Minister Tony Blair said today. He said he hoped the deal would add to progress already made in reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction around the world. Speaking at his monthly press conference, Mr Blair said of the Iranian agreement: France, Germany and Britain have been working very closely on this.
AFP: A major international crisis over Iran's nuclear ambitions may have been averted for the time being, but the fundamental problem remains -- the Islamic regime still wants its very own nuclear fuel cycle. In a deal set to keep its nuclear ambitions away from the United Nations Security Council for the time being, the Islamic republic has yet again agreed to suspend, but not abandon, its uranium enrichment-related work.
AFP: Hundreds of members of Iran's hardline Basij militia Monday rallied outside the British embassy in protest at Britain's military deployment in Iraq, throwing stones at the already damaged compound in Tehran.
AFP: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday his country would press on with its nuclear programme and was not afraid of pressure from the United States. "The people and the officials are not scared of the political threats made by the powers in the service of oppression," Khamenei was quoted as saying by state television during a meeting ...
Reuters: Iran looked set to avoid being reported to the United Nations Security Council on Monday after reaffirming its commitment to a deal meant to reassure the world it is not trying to build a nuclear bomb. But there were signs of mounting exasperation from Western diplomats after five days of chaotic to-and-fro in which Iran first raised fresh demands and then retreated from them.
Washington Post: Dropping a last-minute demand yesterday, Iran agreed to fully suspend its nuclear programs and won some additional concessions from Europe for a resolution that excludes many of the Bush administration's proposals for increasing pressure on the Islamic republic. The resolution, drafted by Britain, France and Germany, is the mildest of the seven previous resolutions against Iran and does not include the explicit threat the White House had sought for reporting Tehran to the U.N. Security Council if it breaks the latest suspension.
National Review Online: The European "solution" to the threat of Iranian atomic bombs bids fair to join the "peace process" as the most boffo running gag in the history of show biz. Every few months, the elegantly dressed diplomatic wizards from London, Paris, and Berlin race across a continent or two to meet with Iranians dressed in turbans and gowns, and after some hours of alleged hard work, they emerge with a new agreement, just like their more numerous counterparts engaged in the peace negotiations. 
AFP: US President George W. Bush said Tuesday that Iran's agreement to freeze all uranium enrichment activities was "certainly not the final step" in easing US fears that Tehran seeks a nuclear weapon. "The Iranians agreed to suspend -- but not terminate -- their nuclear weapons program. Our position is that they ought to terminate their nuclear weapons program," said the president.
AFP: Canada, the 2004-5 chair of UN atomic energy agency's Board of Governors, warned Monday it would press the body to inform the Security Council of any violation of a deal to freeze Iran's uranium program. The Canadian position, laid out in a statement by Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew, mirrored the US stance on the agreement between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). 
Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 30 - The Supreme Court of Iran has upheld a stoning sentence for a woman accused of adultery. Hajieh Esmailvand has been serving prison time in the town of Jolfa (Northwestern Iran) since Jan. 2000 for having an affair
Reuters: Iran is prepared to keep uranium enrichment activities frozen as long as nuclear negotiations continue with the EU, but those talks should not last too long, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Hassan Rohani said Tuesday. "The length of the suspension will only be for the length of the negotiations with the Europeans and the length of negotiations must be rational and not too long," Rohani told a news conference. 
Washington Times: Three Iraqi activists called on the United States to delay the Jan. 30 elections in Iraq, but not for the reason advocated by some of their colleagues who worry religious minorities will not participate. They fear a religious party will win the election and impose a theocratic government like Iran's. 
AP: The United States is taking a time out from browbeating Iran about its nuclear weapons, giving way - for now, at least - while the Europeans try to sweet-talk Iran's uranium enrichment to a halt. America's rhetorical muscling of Iran, and the Iranians' pugnacious reactions, got the world's attention. But the Europeans' offer of nuclear fuel, trade benefits and security guarantees drew a promise from Iran to suspend enrichment of uranium. 
Los Angeles Times: Despite a pledge by Tehran on Monday to suspend all uranium enrichment activities, the United States warned that it reserved the right to refer Iran to the U.N. Security Council, insisting that the Islamic Republic was trying to build nuclear weapons. A resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's governing board sealed a mid-November deal brokered by Britain, France and Germany for Iran to suspend all uranium enrichment-related activities and avoid referral to the Security Council, where it could face sanctions. 
New York Times: In a defeat for the Bush administration, the 35-country ruling board of the International Atomic Energy Agency passed a mildly worded resolution on Monday welcoming Iran's total freeze on a sensitive part of its nuclear program. The resolution, passed by consensus without a vote, removes the possibility that the group will drag Iran before the United Nations Security Council for possible censure or even sanctions. 
Iran Focus: Tehran, Nov. 29 - A 19-year-old man was sentenced to death yesterday, after being convicted of murder. The young man whose identity has not been announced was found guilty of killing his father in the Iranian capital of Tehran. This latest sentence follows a string of public executions carried out by the Iranian regime in recent days. 
USA TODAY: A top U.S. commander is warning Iran and others against thinking they can exploit the U.S. military because its ground troops are fighting two major missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Why the Iranians would want to move against us in an overt manner that would cause us to use our air or naval power against them would be beyond me," ... 
Press Association: Iran will be closely monitored to ensure it sticks to an agreement to halt its uranium enrichment programme, Prime Minister Tony Blair said today. He said he hoped the deal would add to progress already made in reducing the threat of weapons of mass destruction around the world. Speaking at his monthly press conference, Mr Blair said of the Iranian agreement: France, Germany and Britain have been working very closely on this. 
AFP: A major international crisis over Iran's nuclear ambitions may have been averted for the time being, but the fundamental problem remains -- the Islamic regime still wants its very own nuclear fuel cycle. In a deal set to keep its nuclear ambitions away from the United Nations Security Council for the time being, the Islamic republic has yet again agreed to suspend, but not abandon, its uranium enrichment-related work. 
AFP: Hundreds of members of Iran's hardline Basij militia Monday rallied outside the British embassy in protest at Britain's military deployment in Iraq, throwing stones at the already damaged compound in Tehran. 
AFP: Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday his country would press on with its nuclear programme and was not afraid of pressure from the United States. "The people and the officials are not scared of the political threats made by the powers in the service of oppression," Khamenei was quoted as saying by state television during a meeting ... 
Reuters: Iran looked set to avoid being reported to the United Nations Security Council on Monday after reaffirming its commitment to a deal meant to reassure the world it is not trying to build a nuclear bomb. But there were signs of mounting exasperation from Western diplomats after five days of chaotic to-and-fro in which Iran first raised fresh demands and then retreated from them. 
Washington Post: Dropping a last-minute demand yesterday, Iran agreed to fully suspend its nuclear programs and won some additional concessions from Europe for a resolution that excludes many of the Bush administration's proposals for increasing pressure on the Islamic republic. The resolution, drafted by Britain, France and Germany, is the mildest of the seven previous resolutions against Iran and does not include the explicit threat the White House had sought for reporting Tehran to the U.N. Security Council if it breaks the latest suspension. .jpg){kind=icon}
