WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (Xinhua)-- U.S. President George W. Bush said on Thursday that "there must be consequences" for Iran to refuse to stop uranium enrichment.

    Addressing the annual American Legion convention in Salt Lake City, Bush said Iran has responded with defiance and delay to demands to stop enriching uranium. Full story>>

    Iran says IAEA report indicates U.S. propaganda baseless

    TEHRAN, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- The vice president of Iran's atomic energy organization said on Thursday that a new report of the IAEA on Iran's nuclear issue had proved the fact that the U.S. propaganda against Iran was baseless, the Mehr news agency reported.

    "Although the report does not meet our expectations, it shows the U.S. propaganda against the Islamic Republic's peaceful nuclear program is completely baseless," Mohammad Saeedi told the news agency shortly after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed ElBaradei released a report on Iran's nuclear program. Full story>>

    U.S. drafting sanctions on Iran: report

    WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Xinhua)-- The United States and its European allies are assembling a list of sanctions against Iran over its defiance of a deadline to halt production of nuclear fuel, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

    The proposed sanctions will begin with restrictions on imports of nuclear-related equipment and material. Eventually, punitive measures might expand to restrict travel by Iran's leaders and limit the country's access to global financial markets, the newspaper said. Full story>>

    Italy willing to help in negotiations with Iran

    ROME, Aug. 31 (Xinhua) -- Italy is willing to play a role if there is a chance of resuming negotiations with Iran on its controversial nuclear program, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D 'Alema said on Thursday.

    "If there is any glimmer of hope of resuming negotiations, we must act on it and Italy can play a positive role," D'Alema said when addressing a political convention in the southern town of Telese Terme. Full story>>