[…] FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI: Thank you very much, Condi. It’s indeed a great pleasure to be here. I confirmed once again the Italian Government’s commitment to work together with United States, that we consider our first international partner and ally. It’s also very important to reaffirm once again the Italian commitment towards cooperating within EU, because we consider that Italy and United States, Europe and United States should be closer and closer and closer.

[…] Rice spoke for the first time July 21 about a meeting held two days earlier in Geneva between Iranian representatives and representatives from the United States, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. William Burns, under secretary of state for political affairs, represented the United States at that meeting, Rice said, and it should indicate just how seriously the United States is taking this situation.

[…] “Gli istituti finanziari, le grandi aziende europee e le multinazionali stanno rapidamente prendendo le distanze dall’Iran, che è ormai sempre più isolato nel contesto internazionale.”
Lo ha affermato il Sottosegretario del Tesoro americano con delega sul terrorismo e l’intelligence finanziaria, Stuart A. Levey, durante una conferenza stampa tenutasi martedì 15 luglio all’ambasciata USA di Roma.

[…] In order to seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution of the Iranian nuclear issue consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and building further upon the proposal presented to Iran in June 2006, which remains on the table, the elements below are proposed as topics for negotiations between China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, joined by the High Representative of the European Union

[…] Third, long-outstanding questions about Iran's past nuclear activities, including those that indicate Iran's effort to develop a nuclear warhead, remain unanswered. IAEA Director General El Baradei stated clearly that Iran must provide "substantive explanations" for these activities, and that it is essential that Iran provide all requested information, clarifications, and access outlined in the report without further delay.

[…] The joint statement said the nations would take steps to ensure Iranian banks could not abuse the international banking system to support weapons proliferation and terrorism. "We call upon the government of Iran to cooperate in the fight against terrorism," the statement said. The statement endorses a dual-track strategy of offering incentives and the threat of additional economic sanctions.

[…] Iran is troubled by the fact that democracy is taking root in Iraq, Bush said. Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s government recently has seen new successes by Iraqi security forces deployed to Basra to confront Iranian-backed militants. “They were armed and trained by Iran, and they got beat in southern Iraq,” said Rice, adding that U.S.-led coalition forces continue finding and detaining members of Iran’s elite al-Quds Force operating in Iraq.

[…] Brown said he will meet with European leaders to build on three rounds of U.N. Security Council restrictions against doing business with Iran, including possible new measures preventing investments in Iranian liquefied natural gas.

“Iran continues to defy the will of the international community, and we are agreed on the need to strengthen the sanctions regime and ensure these sanctions are effectively implemented,” Brown said.

[…] On March 3, 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution (UNSCR) 1803, with 14 votes in favor and none against (one country, Indonesia, abstained). This is the fifth time the Security Council has acted on the Iran nuclear issue. It is the fourth time the Council has acted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter to impose legally binding sanctions on Iran for the proliferation risks presented by its nuclear program and its failure to suspend its proliferation sensitive nuclear activities.

[…] Some 2 million Iranian Americans -- and other immigrants from neighboring countries that were once part of the Persian Empire -- are celebrating Nowrouz, the Persian New Year, on March 20 with rituals that go back thousands of years. The rituals find their symbolic roots in Zoroastrianism and its dualistic struggle between the forces of good and evil, but with the advent of Islam 14 centuries ago, many of the traditions were modified.