WORLD/MIDDLE EAST
COMMENTARYOnce again, presented for your consideration, a collection of recent stories in the news about Iran's political and nuclear ambitions. When taken together, the stories paint a worrisome picture.
NEWSLINE"If the world should blow itself up, the last audible voice would be that of an expert saying it can't be done." NEWSBYTESBush, Merkel Take Firm Stance Against Iran(washingtonpost.com) -- President Bush and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel said today they are pursuing diplomatic efforts to get Iran to end a suspected nuclear weapons program, which Bush said was "unacceptable" and a "grave threat" to world security.
Bush, Merkel Urge U.N. Action on Iran WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush and German Chancellor Angela Merkel stood together Friday in urging U.N. intervention if Iran does not retreat from a resumption of its nuclear program.
Iran threatens to curb inspectionsTEHRAN (Reuters) - Iran threatened on Friday to block snap U.N. inspections of its nuclear facilities if it is taken to the U.N. Security Council, but the United States said the West would not be deflected from that course.
IAEA and IranJANUARY 2006 10, Tuesday: Iran Begins Removal of IAEA Seals at Enrichment-related Locations. IAEA inspectors have confirmed that Iran has started to remove IAEA seals on enrichment-related equipment and material at Natanz. Based on the information currently available, the removal of Agency seals at enrichment site of Natanz, and at two related storage and testing locations, Pars Trash and Farayand Technique, will be completed by 11 January 2006.
Iran threatens to block inspections if referred to U.N. council(AP) -- Iran threatened on Friday to block inspections of its nuclear sites if confronted by the U.N. Security Council over its atomic activities. The hard-line president reaffirmed his country's intention to produce nuclear energy
Defiant Iran threatens to halt nuclear cooperationTEHRAN (AFP) -- Iran threatened to stop cooperating with the UN atomic watchdog over its controversial nuclear program as US President George W. Bush said it would be "logical" to refer Tehran to the Security Council.
Europeans Seek U.N. Intervention on IranBERLIN (latimes.com) -- The standoff between Iran and the West intensified Thursday when three European foreign ministers said Tehran should be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions after talks failed to persuade Iran to stop work on technology that could produce a nuclear weapon.
Nuke Standoff Intensifies Between Iran and the WestWASHINGTON (latimes.com) -- President Bush today declared that it was "unacceptable" for Iran, a sworn enemy of Israel, to acquire a nuclear weapon, and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel strongly agreed, saying that it was "crucial for the Iranians to see how serious we are about this."
Calls Rise To Refer Iran to U.N. BodyPARIS, Jan. 12 (washingtonpost.com) -- The foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France called Thursday for Iran to be referred to the U.N. Security Council for violating its nuclear treaty obligations, saying that their 2 1/2 years of negotiations reached a dead end this week when the Iranians resumed enriching uranium.
Iran crosses last red line; UN sanctions ahead?PARIS (CSM) -– Iran's abrupt resumption of its nuclear program this week, throwing Tehran's clerical regime into open conflict with the rest of the world, appears to have doomed current diplomatic efforts to curb the country's nuclear ambitions.
Iran's Foreign Minister Threatens to Limit Atomic Inspectors(NYT) -- Iran reacted angrily today to Europe's demand that Iran be referred to the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions.
Cleric says Iran will resist "psychological war" TEHRAN (Reuters) - A leading Iranian cleric said on Friday the Islamic republic would resist the "psychological war" launched against its nuclear program, which the West fears is a front for covert bomb-making.
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