UANI

AP reported that US officials and dipolmats say China has been blocking further sanctions against Iran. "China is blocking high-level talks about imposing new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, apparently in retaliation for U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, according to U.S. officials and diplomats briefed on the matter. The Bush administration has been trying for more than a week to arrange a conference call among senior officials from the six nations negotiating with Iran. But they have so far been stymied by China's refusal to commit, they said on Thursday. ... The Chinese have not explained why they are balking at the conference call, but diplomats said they assume it is related to the Bush administration's Oct. 3 announcement that it will sell up to $6.5 billion in advanced weaponry to Taiwan." Read More

AP reported that Iran began a military exercise near its border with Turkey. "Iranian state-run television says the country's army air force has begun a military exercise near Iran's northwestern border with Turkey. Thursday's report says jet fighters, including American-made F-4s, F-5s and F-14s and Russian-made Sukhoi planes, are involved in the drill." Read More

LA Times reported on a report released by the Middle East Institute saying "the Nixon and Ford administrations created conditions that helped destabilize Iran in the late 1970s and contributed to the country's Islamic Revolution." Read More

VOA reported that "private carrier Mahan Airlines will operate three flights a week between Tehran and Baghdad." "Iranian state media say an Iranian airline has begun offering regular flights to Iraq for the first time in almost 30 years. ... In another sign of improved relations, the Kuwaiti news agency reports the country's first ambassador to Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War, Ali al-Momen, will assume his post in Baghdad next week." Read More

Reuters profiled former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami. "Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has yet to announce whether he wants to relaunch reforms by competing in a 2009 presidential race. But months ahead of the June vote, he was back in the spotlight and displaying his enduring popularity on a visit to the province of his birth, Yazd." Read More

Bloomberg reported on the decision by Iran and Iran to "work together to search for tens of thousands of soldiers missing since their 1980-1988 war." "The governments agreed in Geneva to join the ICRC in trying to trace troops missing in action and prisoners of war who didn't return. The document signed yesterday provides for Iran and Iraq to share information and hand over remains." Read More