Russia and China refuse to discuss possible new sanctions against Iran until the UN nuclear agency reports on Tehran’s answers to a series of questions about its past nuclear work at the end of the year, France’s Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.

Oil and other petroleum futures surged amid supply concerns sparked by a decline in crude inventories at a key Oklahoma terminal.

Iranian President Ahmadinejad has pledged 1 billion dollars for the development of Bolivia’s economy.