Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The
United States said on Tuesday that it is not planning to invade Iran and
stressed diplomacy in trying to resolve Iran's nuclear issue.
"Let me reassure you and everybody else: We're not
planning on invading Iran," White House spokesman Tony Snow said at a briefing.
"Instead, the strategy continues to be the use of
diplomacy as a way of putting pressure on the regime in Teheran," Snow said.
U.S. media has reported that a new U.S. aircraft
carrier will arrive in the Middle East in about a month, increasing the number
of U.S. Navy carriers in the region to two. All these have strengthened
speculation that the United States is aiming to have war with Iran.
The United States has repeatedly accused Iran of
supporting the insurgents in Iraq and secretly developing nuclear weapons under
the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied these charges.
Related:
U.S. criticizes Russia's delivery of missile defense
systems to Iran
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The United States
criticized on Tuesday Russia's delivery of TOR-M1 surface-to-air missile defense
systems to Iran and said the delivery sent a wrong signal.
Report: Iranian troops shoot down U.S. spy
drone
TEHRAN, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Iranian troops have shot
down a U.S. pilotless spy plane, local Fars News Agency reported on Tuesday.
The aircraft was brought down when it was trying to
cross the borders "during the last few days," Seyed Nezam Mola Hoveizeh, a
member of the Iranian parliament, was quoted as saying.
Iran says ready to hold talks with U.S. under suitable
conditions
TEHRAN, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Iran has voiced its
readiness to hold talks with the United States under "fair and suitable"
conditions, the official IRNA news agency reported on Monday.
New U.S. defense chief tough on Iran
BRUSSELS, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- The new U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates on Monday was tough on Iran, indicating that it is not
the right time to engage with the Islamic republic.
