BEIJING, China (AP) -- Robert Gates, making his first visit to China as U.S. defense secretary, is expected to press the Chinese to do more to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.
Iran has shut down several traditional tea houses popular with Iranians and foreign tourists alike in historic cities because they offer water pipes, a newspaper said on Sunday.
US President George W. Bush rolls out the red carpet next week for French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, eager for their views on Iran's nuclear program and Russia.
Iran warned foreign oil and gas firms on Sunday that it will implement major projects with domestic companies alone if they do not speed up the completion of negotiations.
In compliance with the Bush administration's sanctions against Iran, the World Bank has suspended payments to Iran for programs like earthquake relief and sanitation.
Iran has hanged four men convicted of drug trafficking in the southern Hormozgan province and another for murder in the central city of Isfahan, press reports said on Sunday.
Scott Carmichael, a senior counterintelligence officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency, recently confirmed continued intelligence sharing between Iran and Cuba. Additionally, Israeli sources report that during last year's meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Havana, Iranian and Cuban intelligence officers discussed increased collaboration in targeting the United States .
Iran on Sunday urged Iranians to adopt austerity measures to prevent sanctions over its nuclear drive having any impact, amid warnings by world powers of further punitive action.
Thousands of Iranians chanted "Death to America" and vowed not to yield to U.S. pressure over Iran's nuclear program at a demonstration on Sunday marking the 28th anniversary of the seizure of the American embassy.
Robert Gates, making his first visit to China as defense secretary, is expected to press the Chinese to do more to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear capabilities.