The birthday of Imam Mahdi, the savior of the Shiite faith, is a time to celebrate rather than to mourn, which tends to be the focus of most holy days in Iran.
Iran summoned the Swiss diplomat who represents U.S. affairs to its Foreign Ministry on Wednesday to protest the detentions of eight Iranian delegates in Baghdad, according to Iranian state-run media.
Iran rejected on Wednesday U.S. accusations it was fomenting instability in Iraq, a day after President George W. Bush said Tehran's atomic ambitions could put the Middle East "under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust."
Iran is gaining influence in Latin America as the region turns away from Washington and President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad courts new allies to counter U.S. efforts to isolate his government.
The plan, which could delay further sanctions over nuclear programs, allows Iran to withhold access to crucial information.
Iran on Wednesday summoned the Swiss diplomat representing American interests here to protest the U.S. forces' detention in Baghdad of eight Iranians, including two diplomats, the Foreign Ministry said.
The fact that he raised the specter of the use of force is likely to be perceived by Iran as a warning.
by Claude Salhani Washington (UPI) Aug 28, 2007 Amid continuing speculation of a pending U.S. attack on Iran's nuclear facilities or possible raids targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps, a group of activists is asking Washington to consider "terror-free investment" -- a non-violent tool -- as a means of pressuring Iran.
In moving toward designating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization, the Bush administration is adopting a tougher approach with Tehran, officials say - but former Iranian politicians also say it could make matters worse in the region.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran said Thursday that the planned system was "a threat to more than one country."