Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday told U.S. President George W. Bush that he welcomed the U.S. stance on resolving the Iran nuclear issue through diplomatic means.
Iran's foreign minister on Thursday welcomed direct talks with Washington on his country's disputed nuclear program but rebuffed a US proposal that Tehran must suspend uranium enrichment as a condition, state-run television reported.
A "high level" member of the administration should respond to a letter from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to US President George W. Bush and also engage in direct dialogue with Tehran.
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday rejected a possible European offer for incentives, including a light-water nuclear reactor, in return for allaying fears about his country's nuclear program by giving up uranium enrichment.
Russia and China will not vote for the use of force in Iran, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in a sign of persisting differences with the US.
European nations on Tuesday weighed adding a light-water reactor to a package of incentives meant to persuade Tehran to give up uranium enrichment.
U.N. inspectors have found traces of highly enriched uranium on equipment from an Iranian research center linked to the military, revelation likely to strengthen U.S. arguments of Iran's nuclear ambition.
Iran's president on Thursday accused Western powers of double standards in their campaign against his country's nuclear program, and declared the threat of sanctions doesn't worry him.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice dismissed a letter that Iran's president sent to Bush, saying it does not help resolve the standoff.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has written to US President Bush proposing "new solutions" to their differences on the nuclear issue.
Iran's president on Thursday intensified his attacks against Israel, calling it a "regime based on evil,".
Iran said on Sunday any U.N. action over its nuclear program would be illegal and lead to confrontation.
