Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis 

U.S. President George W. Bush holds a news conference in the White House Press Briefing Room in Washington February 28, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, March 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush vowed on Saturday to maintain international pressure to force Iran to stop alleged foreign interference and to suspend its disputed nuclear program.

    Speaking to reporters at his Texas ranch with visiting Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Bush said Iran needs to "stop exporting terror."

    Bush made the remarks on the eve of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's first visit to Iraq. Iran and Iraq fought had an eight-year-old border war in the 1980's.

    The Bush administration has accused Iran of supplying Iraqi militants with bombs used to attack U.S. soldiers. More than 3,970 U.S. soldiers have been killed since war of Iraq broke out in March 2003.

    In addition, Washington also accuses Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran always denies U.S. charges and insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Ahmadinejad's visit to Iraq challenges U.S. influence

    BAGHDAD, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is deemed to demonstrate Iran's clout in Iraq during his landmark visit to the war-torn country on Sunday, challenging the United States which is seeking a long-term broad ties with Iraq.

    Ahmadinejad will be the first Iranian president visiting Iraq since 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran. Full story 

Iraqi president invites his Iranian counterpart to visit Baghdad

    BAGHDAD, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has extended an invitation of visit to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an Iraqi official said on Wednesday.

    President Jalal Talabani had invited Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to pay a visit, Heiwa Othman, advisor of the Iraqi president, told Xinhua, adding that no date has been set. Full story

UN vote on Iran sanctions rescheduled for Monday

    UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- The UN Security Council has rescheduled to Monday its vote on a draft resolution imposing further sanctions on Iran, a UN diplomat said Friday.

    The vote, originally planned for Saturday, was delayed so that the cosponsors could have more time to discuss the text with some of the nonpermanent members, who have expressed obvious skepticism at more sanctions, said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity. Full story