Iran: Sanctions won’t stop nuclear drive
AP— Iran’s president says not even 100,000 U.N. Security Council resolutions will stop his country’s nuclear ambitions.
The semiofficial Fars news agency says Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made the remarks during a meeting with a group of journalists Tuesday in Tehran.
Iran has hardened its position on its nuclear program ahead of Jan. 21-22 talks with world powers in Istanbul, Turkey. Tehran says it will refuse to talk about its right to enrich uranium.
Uranium enrichment lies at the heart of Iran’s dispute with the West, a technology that can be used to produce nuclear fuel or materials for a warhead.
The U.S. and some of its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability, a charge Iran denies.
Iran sorrowful for Sudan’s division
Sudan Tribune– Iran expressed sorrow for the partition of Sudan as it appears certain after a successful vote for the independence of Southern Sudan; while the President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated his support to Khartoum’s government.
"We will not be happy over the division of a large Islamic country... as Iran’s policy has been of preserving territorial integrity and unity of countries," said foreign ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast in statements published on Sunday by the independent told Fars news agency.
"But if they eventually decide to divide Sudan, we will pursue balanced, respectful relations with regard to the policies that the new leaders in south Sudan will declare," he added.
International organizations and groups who monitored the conduct of the vote on self determination said the process was fair and credible paving the way for an international recognition of the 193 new state. Results from the different polling centers inside and outside the country show large support for the secession.
"Iran stands with the Sudanese government and nation forever," said the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejadon after a meeting with Sudanese minister of agriculture Abdel-Halim al-Mutafi in Tehran on Sunday.
Mahmoud said Iran and Sudan have common stances on major international issues and urged to strengthen bilateral relations in all fields.
Iran plans to construct an agro-industrial complex and produce wheat and sugar in Sudan
Iran joins IIPU emergency meeting in Abu Dhabi
ISNA-Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani is to leave for Abu Dhabi on Tuesday for the Islamic Inter-Parliamentary Union (IIPU) emergency meeting.
Larijani accompanied by the Chairman of Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the commission Ahmad Avaei and Deputy Chairman of the Parliament’s Energy Commission Naser Soudani take parts in the summit on Wednesday.
The extraordinary meeting is demanded by the UAE to review articles of association of the union and establish a committee to resolve Islamic states’ disputes.
Rapporteur of Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Kazem Jalali has already said that Iran would not join the meeting.
Larijani represents Iran in the summit following mediation of Kuwaiti Parliament Speaker.
The UAE has proposed creating a committee to resolve disputes between Muslim nations.
A member of Iranian Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Mahmoud Ahmadi-Biqash told ISNA that Iran has agreed to participate in the meeting after the UAE promised not to discuss tense issues.
Iran urges enhanced ties with Uruguay
Press TV--Iran’s caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic enjoys amicable relations with Latin American countries, stressing the importance of bolstering relations with Uruguay.
“We are happy with good relations between the two countries and an increase in exchange of visits will definitely play a role in consolidation and promotion of mutual ties,” IRNA quoted Salehi as speaking in a meeting with Uruguayan Parliament speaker Ivonne Pasada in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Monday.
Salehi expressed Iran’s readiness to provide Uruguay with an all-out support in scientific, technical, economic and trade sectors.
“Tehran and Montevideo should boost parliamentary, political and economic interactions in order to facilitate the establishment of trade and cultural cooperation between the two sides,” the Iranian official went on to say.
Pasada, for her part, said Uruguay welcomes the expansion of ties between the two countries’ parliaments, friendship groups and joint commissions.
The Uruguayan official stressed the importance of utilizing Iran’s experience in the education sector and urged prompt implementation of agreements already signed between the two countries.
During the meeting, Salehi and Pasada also exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments.
The Uruguayan parliament speaker arrived in Tehran on Monday on a four-day visit at the invitation of Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
She is scheduled to meet with the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and other senior Iranian officials. She held talks with her Iranian counterpart earlier on Monday.