Results of a recent opinion poll suggested that a majority of Iranians believe Ahmadinejad’s ideas are close or very close to their views.

Iran’s nuclear policies have not changed, rapporteur of the parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Kazem Jalali said, denying recent reports by western media alleging that Tehran has intentionally slowed down the pace of its enrichment activities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini dismissed recent threats to Tehran by the EU and the US, stressing that sanctions would not make Iranian nation give up its nuclear rights.

Belgium’s West Alpine Company is due to build an annual number of 10,000 residential units in Iran, managing director of the company’s agency in Iran said on Sunday.

Lebanon will battle it out with Iran for an Olympic berth after they defeated two-time former champions South Korea 76-74 in the Asian men’s basketball championship semi-finals.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega signed a series of accords with Iran on Saturday despite criticism from the United States.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, heading a high-ranking delegation, is scheduled to leave Tehran for Algeria on Monday.

KABUL (AFP) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai headed Sunday for the United States and talks with US counterpart George W. Bush that risk being overshadowed by the Taliban’s detention of 21 South Koreans. Karzai is due to meet Bush at the US presidential retreat of Camp David in Maryland later …

WASHINGTON (AFP) – US President George W. Bush is to welcome Afghanistan’s leader Hamid Karzai to his Camp David retreat Sunday for talks expected to focus on the Taliban insurgency and mounting civilian casualties. The White House said they would discuss security and the US-led “war on terror” and “review …

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) – Taliban insurgents said on Sunday there was still no agreement on where to hold direct talks with South Korean diplomats seeking the release of 21 of their countrymen kidnapped more than two weeks ago. A South Korean delegation was in Ghazni province, southwest of Kabul, where …