Israel slams 'absurd' Iran bid for Security Council seat JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said on Wednesday that giving Iran a seat on the UN Security Council would be "absurd" given the insecurity its policies have caused.

‘Battle for Basra’ a prelude to an attack Iran? For the last year or so, petraeus has been condemning iran for funding, training, and arming, ‘rogue elements of the mahdi army’. "The idea of Iranian-backed "rogue" Shi'ite militia groups undermining Sadr's efforts to pursue a more moderate course was introduced by the U.S. military command in early 2007. These alleged Iranian proxies were called "Special Groups", a term that came not from Iran or the Shi'ites themselves but from the Bush administration." (Gareth Porter ‘Petraeus Testimony to Defend False 'Proxy War' Line’ http://www.antiwar.com/porter/?articleid=12649 April 8, 2008).

Israel PM calls for naval blockade of Iran JERUSALEM (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has urged the United States to impose a naval blockade on Iran to pressure it to stop its controversial nuclear programme, the Haaretz daily reported on Wednesday.

Israel delays talks after Assad Moscow trip Israeli sources have reported the postponement of the fifth round of Turkey mediated peace-talks between Syrian and Israeli negotiators.

'IAF apparently held Iran strike drill' Israel carried out a major military drill during the first week of June that US sources say was apparently a rehearsal for a potential attack on Iran's nuclear sites, the News York Times reported Friday.

Disinformation flies as US raises Iran bar A new report on Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is about to be released and US "pre-emptive" diplomacy, aimed at preventing an IAEA "clean bill of health" that could derail Washington's effort for a new round of UN sanctions on Iran, is at full throttle - with the timely help of disinformation.

Gates: New US Carrier in Gulf a "Reminder" to Iran   Mexico City - The US Navy has temporarily added a second aircraft carrier in the Gulf as a "reminder" to Iran, but this was not an escalation of American forces in the region, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday.

London's Man Cheney Blows Up Iraq, To Trigger War on Iran In the wake of the April 9-10 Capitol Hill testimony by Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador to Baghdad Ryan Crocker, the Bush Administration, according to senior U.S. intelligence sources, has ordered American forces inside Iraq, to escalate the military campaign against Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his Madhi Army. Lyndon LaRouche promptly denounced this action as totally psychotic, and guaranteed to blow up the Iraqi situation, which is already fragile, at best.

McCain vows tough sanctions on Iran WASHINGTON (AFP) - Republican White House candidate John McCain Monday called for tough new sanctions on Iran if it fails to halt its nuclear program, including a bid to deprive the US foe of gasoline.

US Officials: Decision on Confronting Iran Up to Iraq   President Bush said Thursday that Iran has declared that it wants to be a nuclear power with a weapon to "destroy people," including others in the Middle East, contradicting the judgments of a recent U.S. intelligence estimate.	U.S. plays down chance of Iran resolution soon WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday played down the chance of major powers agreeing on new U.N. sanctions against Iran when ministers meet in Berlin next week, underlining discord over how to proceed with Tehran.
Saudi cannot be launchpad for Iran attack: report A leading Saudi newspaper on Saturday ruled out any attempt by the United States to use the oil-rich Gulf kingdom as a launchpad for a possible war on Iran over Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.	Iran Sanctions Vote Signals a Global Rift    United Nations, NY - The passage this week by the United Nations Security Council of a third set of sanctions against Iran places a spotlight on two trends in the international community's dispute with Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran receives nuke fuel TEHRAN, Iran - Iran received a third shipment of nuclear fuel from Russia on Friday for a power plant being constructed in the southern port of Bushehr, state radio reported.	Iran to launch oil and gas exchange on Feb. 27 Iran will launch a commodities exchange for oil, petrochemicals and natural gas on February 27, the Islamic Republic's oil minister said on Wednesday.