KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AFP) – Two French aid workers held by the Taliban in Afghanistan are well, the Islamist movement said, a day ahead of an apparent deadline for demands to be met for their freedom. The Taliban, which has beheaded several of its captives, said April 20 French troops must …

Iranian Parliament Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel here on Wednesday warned that incompletion of his country’s first nuclear power plant by the Russian contractor would certainly leave negative impacts on Tehran-Moscow long-term economic ties.

 Iran’s President defined boosting of cooperation and exchanges with independent states as his country’s definite policy, saying that consolidation of relations and deepening of cooperation among regional countries reinvigorates peace and stability and serves nations’ welfare.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad termed strengthening of Iraq’s legal bodies as the only way to safeguard security and integrity of that country, stressing that a secure, independent and powerful Iraq would be the best friend for his country and would serve the interests of regional nations as well.

Iran’s top nuclear negotiator said Thursday that talks with a senior EU official had brought them closer to “a united view” of how to break a deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear issue.

Oil eased, but stayed above $68 a barrel on Thursday, after Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said differences with the European Union over its nuclear program were gradually narrowing.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari arrived in Tehran Wednesday afternoon to encourage Tehran to attend the upcoming Iraq security talks in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad voiced his country’s inclination to develop ties with different American and African countries.

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani said he expected the European Union to float “new ideas” at talks on Wednesday over Tehran’s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

Iran’s Accredited Ambassador to Myanmar Mohsen Pak Ayeen called for the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries, stating that officials of both states are decisive to expand mutual ties.