Iran sanctions: Opposition from Turkey, Brazil, Lebanon

The United States and its Western allies won crucial support from Russia and China for new sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear program, but they now face a tough campaign to get backing from the rest of the U.N. Security Council. (more…)

West dismisses Iran nuclear deal

European Union and British officials have said that a nuclear fuel swap deal agreed by Iran, Turkey and Brazil might not be enough to stop the US-led push for tougher sanctions against Tehran.

A spokeswoman for Catherine Ashton, the EU foreign policy chief, welcomed the deal on Monday, but said that the bloc still had “serious concerns” about Iran’s nuclear programme. (more…)

Iran to resume uranium enrichment despite Turkey deal

Iran will continue to enrich uranium to 20 percent, it said Monday, despite agreeing hours earlier to ship its low-enriched uranium to Turkey. (more…)

Turkey, Brazil secure a deal on Iran nuclear fuel swap

Turkey said on Sunday Iran had agreed on a nuclear fuel swap deal which could help end Tehran’s stand-off with the West over its atomic program. (more…)

Iran seeks to boost Brazil trade as sanctions loom

Trade between Iran and Brazil could increase nearly five-fold to some $10 billion, an Iranian official said on Sunday during a visit by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to the Islamic Republic. (more…)

Brazil’s president in Iran to broker a compromise

Brazil’s president met with Iranian leaders Sunday to try to broker a compromise in the international standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program, even as the U.S. says new sanctions are the only way to force Iran’s cooperation.

Luis Inacio Lula da Silva is trying to use Brazil’s friendly relations with Iran to show it can be a fair, neutral broker in the escalating dispute. Since evidence of a clandestine Iranian nuclear program first emerged in 2003, negotiations with world powers and visits by U.N. inspectors have failed to persuade the U.S. and its allies that Iran is not pursuing a weapons capability. (more…)

Brazilian President arrives in Tehran

Brazilian President Lula Inacio de Silva arrived in Tehran for a nuclear summit that major powers have said might prove to be Tehran’s last chance to avoid tough new UN sanctions.

The Brazilian leader, heading a delegation of 300, was welcomed on the two-day visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, an AFP journalist said.

He is due to meet Sunday morning with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and is also due to meet the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. (more…)

President Suleiman is back in Lebanon

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman returned to Beirut after a five-day official visit to Brazil during which he met with his Brazilian counterpart and several key Brazilian officials. The President also met with the Lebanese expatriates in every city he visited and urged them to invest in Lebanon. (more…)

Suleiman: Lebanon is no longer an easy target for Israel

President Michel Suleiman , who is in Brazil on an official visit addressed the Lebanese expatriates in Sao Paolo on Friday and told them that Israel knows that Lebanon is no longer an easy target (more…)

Lebanon president heads to Brazil

President Michel Suleiman and an accompanying delegation headed to Brazil Wednesday for a six-day official visit, said a statement issued by the president’s office.

Suleiman was accompanied by his wife, Wafa, and Cabinet Ministers Tareq Mitri, Mona Ofeish, Ali Abdulah, Salim al-Sayegh and Mohammed Rahhal.

Suleiman will meet with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as other high-ranking officials, added the statement. (more…)