Middle Orient

TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- A senior commander in Iran’s naval force said the country’s navy enjoys the required capabilities to respond to any possible military aggression against Iran’s territorial waters with an iron feast.

Iran’s Intelligence Minister Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ezhehee said that his ministry would disclose contents of a case publicly known here in Iran as the nuclear spy case if the judiciary power issued the required permission.

Lebanon’s presidential election was postponed for a week to December 7 to allow for more talks between rival leaders on a compromise candidate, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Thursday.

Iraqi legislators thwarted Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s attempts to get approval for nominees to fill two vacant cabinet posts on Thursday, indicating deep political divisions remain despite falling sectarian violence.

Pope Benedict has accepted an unprecedented call by Muslim scholars for dialogue between Christians and Islam, inviting them for meetings in Vatican City, the Vatican said on Thursday.

Lebanese leaders will put off a presidential election set for Friday for a sixth time to allow for talks expected to focus on the army chief’s nomination for a post now vacant for a week, political sources said.

One old investor used binoculars to watch stock prices. Others yelled out instructions to brokers who scribbled down prices on a white board.

Chances of a breakthrough appear slim when Iran’s main nuclear negotiator meets Europe’s top diplomat on Friday in a last effort to avert tougher sanctions over Tehran’s disputed atomic program.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said after peace talks in Washington that failure to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians could threaten Israel’s long-term survival.

A senior Russian envoy has been trying to broker a deal between Israel and Syria on the future of the Golan Heights, an Israeli newspaper said on Thursday.