European governments are deeply divided over imposition of new sanctions against Iran, in what could undermine a new US effort to mobilize allies to act outside of the United Nations, according to European officials.

  U.S. President George W. Bush warned on Wednesday that if Iran develops nuclear weapons, the result could be a new world war.  

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice flew back to Israel on Tuesday to resume intense preparations for a looming Middle East summit after securing cautious Egyptian support for the conference.

With less than a week to go before Lebanon’s parliament convenes again to elect a president, all indicators are that the session is doomed to fail or will be cancelled for lack of consensus among the country’s feuding political factions.

Russia, Iran and other Caspian Sea countries strongly warned outside nations on Tuesday against using their territories for launching military action, but they failed to reach an agreement on ways to divide the sea’s vast energy resources.

Syrian President Bashar Assad arrived here Tuesday for a four-day visit to discuss regional issues and bilateral ties, Anatolia news agency reported.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised a very specific view in his Tuesday meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei.

A senior Iranian law enforcement official said that the Japanese student abducted in Iran’s Kerman province several days ago has been taken to the border province of Sistan and Balouchestan.

Commander of the artillery and missile unit of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) ground force said that his troops are using smart ammunition.

Iran said on Wednesday that it has and will take the needed options to defend itself against western powers, particularly the US.