Iran Balks at UN Plan on Nukes

(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»

US, France, Britain threaten sanctions

(AP) - President Obama and the leaders of France and Britain demanded today that Iran fully disclose its nuclear ambitions "or be held accountable" to an impatient world community. They threatened new sanctions after the disclosure of a secret Iranian nuclear facility. "Iran is breaking rules that all nations must follows," Obama said in the opening moments of the G-20 summit. More»

He was trying to board a plane to Tehran

(NEWSER) - Russian custom agents have seized 18 pieces of radioactive metal from an Iranian man who was trying to board a flight to Tehran, the customs agency announced today. The incident occurred sometime in the past—the agency didn't specify when—at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. The man's luggage triggered the airport radiation alarm, registering at 20 times above normal levels. The luggage was seized, but the Iranian was not detained. 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»