Iran

December 4, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made the following statement today ahead of President Bush’s remarks this morning, calling on the President to conduct a thorough review of his Iran policy in light of the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear program that concluded Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003:    » read more »

December 4, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today in response to President Bush’s comments during his press conference regarding Iran:

“In October, President Bush raised the specter of World War III with Iran because of its pursuit of a nuclear weapon months after he had been told by our own intelligence community it was likely Iran had halted its weapons program in 2003.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 2007 – A new intelligence estimate that says Iran stopped its covert nuclear weapons program in 2003 is good news, but also presents cause for concern, President Bush’s national security advisor said today.

Stephen Hadley briefed White House reporters today on the report, which was produced by the office of the director of national intelligence.

The estimate is the intelligence community’s judgment given the available information. All 16 U.S. intelligence agencies – including eight within the Defense Department – participated in the effort.    » read more »

Dec 3, 2007 -- Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Today, Senator John Edwards released the following statement on the new National Intelligence Estimate on Iran:

"The new National Intelligence Estimate shows that George Bush and Dick Cheney's rush to war with Iran is, in fact, a rush to war. The new NIE finds that Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003 and that Iran can be dissuaded from pursuing a nuclear weapon through diplomacy.    » read more »

December 3, 2007 -- Washington, DC – Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) issued the following statement today after the release of the National Intelligence Estimate:

"The conclusions of the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on Iran's nuclear intentions and capabilities are, figuratively speaking, explosive. Iran stopped its weapons-related work in 2003. And while it has resumed work on uranium enrichment, it is still at least several years away from producing the fissile material it would need for a nuclear weapon.    » read more »

04 December 2007 -- Iran has expelled the Canadian ambassador to Tehran after Ottawa refused to accept Iran's proposed envoys to Canada.

Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Maxime Bernier said Monday the decision to oust the ambassador was entirely unjustifiable.

Bernier said Canada and Iran had tried to agree on an exchange of ambassadors, but Ottawa has been unable to accept the candidates submitted by Tehran.

Neither side offered any explanation for the disagreement.    » read more »

21 November 2007 -- A conservative newspaper in Iran has issued a rare public critique of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, accusing him of behaving inappropriately by discrediting political rivals and private universities.

The Jomhuri Eslami editorial published Wednesday refers to Mr. Ahmadinejad's remarks last week to students on the subjects of Tehran's nuclear ambitions and education reform.    » read more »

18 November 2007 -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has warned that oil prices could more than double to $200 a barrel if the United States attacked Iran or Venezuela.

Mr. Chavez made the comment Saturday during an opening speech of an OPEC summit in Riyadh.

Before heading to the summit, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in Bahrain and played down the prospect of a possible war with the United States, saying he did not believe there would be any new war in the region.    » read more »

10 November 2007, Washington (By Scott Stearns) -- President Bush is hosting German Chancellor Angela Merkel at his Texas ranch. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, the two leaders are expected to discuss Iraq, Iran, and Afghanistan.

The president and Mrs. Bush welcomed Chancellor Merkel and her husband to their central Texas ranch with a meal of pecan-smoked tenderloin, sautéed mushrooms, and green chili and cheese grits soufflé.    » read more »

06 November 2007 -- The U.S. military says it soon will release nine Iranians detained in Iraq.

Mmilitary spokesman Rear Admiral Gregory Smith said Tuesday the Iranians pose no further threat to Iraqi security. He said two of those being released were detained in Irbil in January, while the others were taken into custody elsewhere at various other times.    » read more »

Nov 5, 2007 -- University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa -- "Thank you for having me here today. Thank you.

Five years ago, the Bush Administration went to war with Iraq, a war we all know now we did not need to fight. Today, we see the results of that fateful decision -- a civil war with no end in sight... a black hole in our budget... and nearly 4,000 brave men and women in our military who have paid the ultimate price.    » read more »

Legislation would undo damage caused by Senate’s passage of Kyl-Lieberman amendment

November 2, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday evening, U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 23, a legislative proposal specifying that the use of force against Iran is not authorized by any previous action of Congress. This would include the authorization of the use of force against Iraq; the recently passed Kyl-Lieberman amendment, which states that our military presence in Iraq should be used to counter Iran; and any resolution previously adopted by Congress.    » read more »

Rumsfeld memos corroborate targeting of Iran Thursday, November 01, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Public disclosure of private memos from former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld provides further evidence, from the highest level, that the Bush Administration has been targeting Iran for aggression for longer than previously acknowledged, Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich said today.    » read more »

Aggressive Rhetoric Undermines Diplomacy

November 1, 2007 -- Washington, DC — Along with 28 co-signers, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Jim Webb of Virginia sent a letter to the White House today warning the President not to take offensive military action against Iran without the express consent of Congress.    » read more »

Governor says he fully supports state assistance for steel plant project on Iron Range

October 31, 2007 -- Saint Paul – Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty said today that Essar Global has committed to fully comply with all U.S. and international law, including those prohibiting certain investments in Iran, and that he will support continued state assistance for Essar’s proposed steel project on the Iron Range.    » read more »