UN official visits Iran to boost ties in Central Asia

September 22nd, 2009 Family holds out hope for hikers detained in IranPHILADELPHIA — The brother of one of three American hikers detained in Iran says the family hopes President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (ah-muh-DEE'-neh-zhahd) brings the trio with him when he visits the United Nations. Ahmadinejad is addressing the General Assembly on Wednesday in New York.

September 9th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Despite the country's struggle against the existential threat posed by the Taliban and other extremist groups and the economy in shambles, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari has been busy in touring the world. According to a report, Zardari has spent almost 94 days out of Pakistan.

September 5th, 2009 TEHRAN - Visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Saturday agreed on a roadmap over the next 10 years to boost economic and military ties between the two countries. Chavez is heading a business delegation to Iran as part of his two-day visit to the Islamic country.

August 12th, 2009 Diplomat: Iran opposes US base deal for ColombiaLA PAZ, Bolivia — Iran's foreign minister said Wednesday that his country opposes an impending deal to expand the U.S. military's presence in Colombia.

June 24th, 2009 Iran considering downgrading ties with BritainCAIRO — Iran says it is considering downgrading ties with Britain after days of rising tension over criticism of Iran's disputed presidential election. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was asked about the option of reducing diplomatic relations with London after a Cabinet meeting in Tehran.

June 7th, 2009 Key issues facing IranDomestic and international issues facing Iran NUCLEAR QUESTION: Iran has expanded its uranium enrichment and expects to have its first reactor fully operational later this year. Iran says it only seeks a peaceful nuclear program for energy and research.

May 20th, 2009 LONDON - Rejecting Australian Defence White Paper's claims that the US supremacy is fading in the Asia-Pacific region, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that the US did not see the rise of China as "a zero-sum game" which would inevitably leave America weakened. Speaking to the foreign press corps in Washington DC overnight, Clinton rejected that the economic rise of China and other nations in the region would inevitably mean that US power would decline after 2030 - and that Australia needs to prepare for that world.

April 29th, 2009 Iran's defense minister visits VenezuelaCARACAS, Venezuela — Iran's defense minister has held talks with officials in Venezuela seeking to strengthen military ties. Iran's official IRNA news agency reported Tuesday that Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammed Najjar met with Venezuelan Vice President Ramon Carrizalez, who is also the acting defense minister.

April 27th, 2009 US envoy on Iran policy to visit GulfWASHINGTON — The State Department is sending its special envoy for the Persian Gulf to the region to discuss international diplomatic efforts to persuade Iran to abandon its suspected quest for nuclear weapons. It will be the first trip to the region for Dennis Ross since he was named to the position in late February.

April 8th, 2009 TEHRAN - An Iranian parliamentary commission is currently reviewing a US proposal for restoring ties with Tehran, IRNA reported Wednesday. National Security and Foreign Policy Commission member Mohammad Karami-Rad said the commission will examine different aspects of the US-Iran relationship before giving its nod.

April 5th, 2009 TEHRAN - The Iranian parliament Sunday urged the government to reconsider its bilateral ties with countries that support terrorism, IRNA reported. The Iranian lawmakers Sunday approved a bill in parliament urging the government to reconsider its ties with countries that sponsor and support terrorism.

March 20th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Iran has accused Pakistan of allowing its soil to be used against it. Addressing a press conference here, Iran's Ambassador to Pakistan Mashall-ah Shakeri asked Islamabad to curb the activities of Jund Ullah which is involved in carrying out anti-Iran activities from Pakistani soil.

March 17th, 2009 BEIJING - South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak said Tuesday that his country was ready to boost ties with Iran. In a meeting with Iran's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi in the South Korean capital, Lee said Seoul attaches great importance to its ties with Tehran.

February 16th, 2009 MOSCOW - Russia has said it will not change its policy towards Iran under pressure from Europe and the US, IRNA reported Tuesday. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin said: 'Despite some countries which demanded for a change in Russia's policy on Iran, Russian officials see no reason for doing so.' The Russian leader was referring to the recent Munich Security Conference in Germany where some European leaders urged Russia to change its stand on Iran, which they believe is trying to make a nuclear weapon.

January 15th, 2009 TAIPEI - Taiwan and China are expected to launch regular passenger and cargo flights in July, ending Taipei's six-decade ban on cross-strait air links with the mainland, a newspaper said Friday. The Commercial Times, quoting an unnamed official, said Taipei and Beijing plan to hold talks in late May to discuss opening regular flights and sign a pact.