The United States on Monday brushed aside the UN nuclear watchdog agency chief's warning that there was no proof Iran seeks atomic weapons, and invited him to stay out of diplomacy with Tehran.
Iran began a crucial round of talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday to clarify its nuclear activity amid disagreement between the IAEA chief and the West over judging Tehran's intentions.
Iran and the Middle East peace process are likely to dominate Wednesday's talks here between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, a senior Foreign Office official said.
The U.N. nuclear chief on Monday called Iran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment or halt construction of a nuclear reactor "regrettable," but said Tehran could help resolve the dispute over its nuclear ambitions if it clears up all suspicions about its nuclear activities.
Iran and the UN atomic watchdog resumed talks on Monday over controversial Iranian nuclear activities, a day after the agency's chief said there was still no evidence Tehran is seeking nuclear arms.
A senior US official said Monday he discussed the latest sanctions imposed by Washington against Iran with officials in the United Arab Emirates, which is Tehran's top trading partner.
An Iranian naval commander Monday said his forces are willing to carry out suicide missions when facing enemy forces in the Persian Gulf, according to Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency.
France and the US dismiss the UN nuclear watchdog's finding that there is no evidence Iran is building a bomb.
A senior U.N. nuclear agency official said cooperation with Iran was "good" ahead of talks on Monday about Tehran's disputed atomic work, after an Iranian warning that new U.S. sanctions could harm ties with the agency.
Will President George W. Bush manage to leave office without starting a war with Iran?