Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad today said the American people are eager to hear different opinions about the world, and he is looking forward to having the chance to voice them during his trip to the US, state media reported.

Five of Iran's officials held by the US in Iraq have complained about their treatment in detention, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman said today.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman today criticised the recent appointment of Tony Blair as an international Mideast envoy, but expressed hope that Gordon Brown would relieve tensions between the two countries.

Iran today condemned Britain's decision to grant a knighthood to author Salman Rushdie, who was forced into hiding for a decade after the Islamic republic’s spiritual leader ordered his assassination.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that it was "too late" to stop Iran's nuclear programme and warned the US and its allies not to push for new UN sanctions.

Iran today said disputes over its nuclear program could be settled in the coming weeks.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator and the European Union’s foreign policy chief are to meet this week in an effort to explore whether there’s room to resume negotiations over Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme.

A meeting between Iran’s leading nuclear negotiator and the European Union’s foreign policy chief has been postponed, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said today.

Tehran has agreed to a formal request from the US to talk about security in Iraq during meetings in Baghdad, it was disclosed today.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad confirmed today that his government will attend a major regional conference on Iraq set for this week in Egypt, the Iraqi prime minister's office said.

Two Swedes imprisoned for espionage have been pardoned and will be freed today, according to reports from Iran's official news agency.

Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman said today that Iran had no plans to meet with US officials on the sidelines of the forthcoming conference on Iraq, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.

Two of the 15 captured British sailors pointed to a map of the Persian Gulf and identified where they had been arrested 10 days ago on video clips aired by Iranian state-run television channels.

Fifteen detained British sailors and marines held by Iran are healthy and are being treated in a humane fashion, officials said today.

IRAN said yesterday an international conference in Baghdad, where it held direct talks with the US for the first time in four years, was a constructive “first step” toward restoring stability to the neighbouring country.

IRAN yesterday rejected US accusations that the highest levels of Iranian leadership have armed Shi’ite militants in Iraq with armour-piercing roadside bombs.

Iran today rejected US accusations that the highest levels of Iranian leadership had armed Shiite militants in Iraq with armour-piercing roadside bombs.

Iran today condemned the abduction of its diplomat in Baghdad, adding that it holds the United States responsible for his life.

The Iraqi foreign minister today said the five Iranians detained by US-led forces in Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq were working in a liaison office that had government approval and was in the process of being approved as a consulate.

US President George Bush’s new strategy to send thousands of more troops to Iraq was met with harsh scepticism across the Middle East today where many predicted that even with more soldiers, America would fail at breaking the cycle of violence.

Iran today denounced British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s call for an alliance of Muslim countries against Tehran as “hostile”, accusing him of fuelling tensions in the region.

Iran will continue its nuclear programme even if the United Nations imposes sanctions, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said today, referring to the gathering international momentum toward punishing Iran for its enrichment of uranium.