TEHRAN, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Tuesday he saw "no use" in negotiating with the United States and again signalled that Tehran was unwilling to freeze sensitive nuclear work.
No Iran nuclear talks ahead of informal deadline: diplomats
VIENNA, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani is not likely to meet EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana this week, despite an informal deadline of the end of month to respond to an offer of talks over its nuclear program, diplomats said Tuesday.
Oil prices advance: above 72 dollars in New York
LONDON, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – World oil prices rose on Tuesday, supported by refinery disruption and strong energy demand in the United States, as well as jitters over Iran, analysts said.
New York’s main contract, light sweet crude for delivery in August, climbed 45 cents to 72.25 dollars per barrel in pit trading.
US rejects Iranian qualms about talks
WASHINGTON, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – The White House said Tuesday that it did not consider Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rejection of a proposal for nuclear talks as the Islamic Republic’s final word on the offer.
World Cup top scorers
BERLIN, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – World Cup top scorers on Tuesday:
World Cup 2006 factfile: Portugal
GELSENKIRCHEN, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – Factfile on Portugal who play England in the World Cup quarter-finals here on Saturday:
Annan urges Iran to reply sooner to international offer
UNITED NATIONS, June 27, 2006 (AFP) – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Tuesday urged Iran to expedite its response to an offer of incentives made by world powers in exchange for halting uranium enrichment, a UN statement said.
British FM uttered expletive after being offered her job
LONDON, June 28, 2006 (AFP) – Margaret Beckett, Britain’s first female foreign secretary, revealed Wednesday that she uttered a rather undiplomatic swear word when Prime Minister Tony Blair offered her the job last month.
Oil prices rise past 72 dollars in Asian trade
SINGAPORE, June 28, 2006 (AFP) – Oil prices climbed past 72 dollars in Asian trade Wednesday as the market focussed on the prospect for tight gasoline (petrol) demand during the North American summer driving season following refinery problems on the Gulf coast, dealers said.
EU warns Iran not to ‘play for time’ on nuclear offer
MOSCOW, June 28, 2006 (AFP) – The European Union warned Iran on Wednesday against delaying a response to a proposal on resolving the international standoff over the country’s controversial nuclear programme.
"Iran should not play for time and we expect Iran to come back soon to the Vienna package," the European Union’s external relations commissioner, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, said during a visit to Moscow. "Iran has to show it is serious about it."
The package drawn up by the five permanent UN Security Council members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany promises incentives and multilateral talks if Iran agrees temporarily to halt uranium enrichment.
