Iran

 ISLAMABAD — Now that President Pervez Musharraf has reaffirmed intention to step down as army chief after eight years, the identity of his replacement at the helm of the powerful nuclear-armed army is leaving every body guessing. “Loyalty will possibly be the key factor but General Musharraf may spring a …

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging Iran to comply with Security Council resolutions regarding its nuclear activities, after France‘s foreign minister warned that the world should prepare for war if negotiations fail.

Russia and China expressed alarm on Tuesday over comments by France’s foreign minister that Paris should prepare for the prospect of war with Iran, which the West accuses of secretly developing nuclear weapons.

A senior Iranian air force commander said his troops have prepared operational plans to retaliate against Israel’s possible air strikes on the Islamic Republic.

In clear reaction to the recent statements by the US Secretary that Washington has different options on the table for confronting Tehran, Iranian Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said his country is also ready to give various responses to such threats.

A scheduled meeting between Iran’s former top nuclear negotiator and secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rohani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was postponed to an unknown date.

Following the recent reports about a meeting between a number of Iranian reformists and a US senator, Iranian parliament speaker said asking for aliens’ help shows lack of public support, adding that the Iranian nation condemns any resort to the aliens, specially the US.

Iran said that during the recent talks between Iranian deputy foreign minister and Egyptian officials the two sides have agreed to continue negotiations at different levels.

Iran said that issuance of any fresh UN Security Council Resolutions would not influence its legal nuclear activities, reminding that its case should no more be decided by the UNSC member states as it is now verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Considering the belligerent and irrational stance of France, Iran will reconsider its economic ties with that country, an Iranian parliament’s presiding board member said here on Wednesday.