Iran replies to six-nation proposal  

Iran launches military exercise

    WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Tuesday rejected a proposed debate between President George W. Bush and his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

    "Talk of a debate is just a diversion from the legitimate concerns that the international community, not just the U.S., has about Iran's behavior, from support for terrorism to pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability," White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said.

    Perino said the United States was willing to talk to Iran "in the context of positive response to the P5+1 package," referring to the five UN Security Council permanent members - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - and Germany.

    At a news conference in Tehran on Tuesday, Ahmadinejad proposed the live television debate with Bush on world issues.

    "I suggest holding a live TV debate with Mr. George W. Bush to talk about world affairs and the ways to solve those issues," he said. Enditem

Iran's president proposes TV debate with Bush

    TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday proposed having a live television debate with his U.S. counterpart George W. Bush on "world issues". >>>

Iranian nuclear issue expected to return to UN in mid-September

    UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council is expected to take up the Iranian nuclear issue in mid-September if Iran does not comply with a UN demand to suspend uranium enrichment activities by Thursday, Britain's UN ambassador Jones Parry said on Tuesday. >>>

Iran vows to continue peaceful nuclear program

    TEHRAN, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Tuesday that his country will continue to pursue peaceful nuclear program even though the UN Security Council has demand a suspension of its uranium enrichment. >>>

Iran dismisses U.S. sanction threat

    TEHRAN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iranian government spokesman Gholam-Hossein Elham dismissed on Monday a U.S. threat to act independently with allies to impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear issue if the UN Security Council failed to do so after an Aug. 31 deadline. >>>

U.S. envoy suggests unilateral action against Iran

    UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton signaled on Monday that the United States may bypass the UN Security Council to take punitive measures against Iran if the council fails to do so. >>>