Obama Demands Inquiry Into Iran Nuke Plant

Now wants to buy fuel, not ship uranium to Russia for enrichment

(AP) - State TV says Iran wants to buy nuclear fuel it needs for a research reactor rather than accept the UN deal negotiated earlier this week, in which much of Iran's uranium would be shipped to Russia for further enrichment. The response will come as a disappointment to the US, Russia, and France, all of whom endorsed the UN plan today as a way of steering Tehran away from nuclear weapons. No sign yet on how the world powers will react. More»

(NEWSER) - The US will tell Iran next week that it must open all its nuclear sites for inspection within 3 months, turn over any related documents, and make scientists available for questions. Tehran also may be ordered to allow inspectors into its newly revealed uranium-enrichment plant within days. The revelation of that site is giving US officials an aggressive new stance ahead of Thursday's big meeting between Tehran and Western powers, notes the New York Times. More»

Kissinger, Powell, Baker call on Senate for 'essential' vote

(NEWSER) - The New START treaty got some serious firepower behind it this morning, with the past five Republican secretaries of state writing a Washington Post op-ed in its support. "Although each of us had initial questions about New START," write Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, James Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger and Colin Powell, "administration officials have provided reasonable answers" and concessions, resulting in "compelling reasons Republicans should support ratification" More»

Criticizes Obama's 'three or four beautiful words'

(AP) - Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said today that new international sanctions would only strengthen the country's technological progress by encouraging it to become more self-sufficient. In a speech, Ahmadinejad also rejected President Obama's offers of engagement, saying "three or four beautiful words" don't mean US policies have changed under his administration. More»

'I'm not interested in waiting months': Obama

(AP) - With the president of France at his side, President Obama declared today that he hopes to have international sanctions against Iran in place "within weeks" over its nuclear program. But he acknowledged he still lacks full support. "Do we have unanimity in the international community? Not yet. And that's something that we have to work on." More»