US secretary of state John Kerry and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton are meeting as they prepare for another day of nuclear negotiations with Iran.

Iran’s new president has called on Israel to join an international treaty banning the spread of nuclear weapons, chiding the Jewish state for being the only Middle East nation that has failed to do so.

THE UN Security Council passed a weakened resolution yesterday giving Iran until August 31 to suspend uranium enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman today praised Russia and China for their opposition to the US drive to impose UN sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programme.

Iran’s top UN diplomat has criticised a resolution demanding that Tehran halt uranium enrichment or face the threat of further action, charging that it is aimed at provoking confrontation rather than resolving the dispute over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Iran will not comply with any Security Council resolution aimed at halting its nuclear enrichment programme because its activities are legal, peaceful, and pose no threat to international security, said Iran’s UN ambassador.

The UN Security Council has given Iran 30 days to clear up suspicions that it wants to become a nuclear power and key members are already discussing further action if Tehran refuses to suspend uranium enrichment and allow more extensive inspections.

THE United States is pressing Iran to hand over al-Qaida suspects believed

The United States is pressing Iran to hand over al-Qaida suspects believed by American intelligence to have been working in Iranian territory, it was reported today.

Israel’s ambassador has used a UN Security Council meeting on terrorism to attack Syria as “one of the world’s foremost sponsors of terrorism”.

One by one, Arab nations promised to co-operate in the fight against terrorism even Sudan and Libya, which are on the US list of nations sponsoring terrorism.