EU, U.S. move closer to new talks with Iran
VILNIUS, Lithuania – The European Union and the U.S. are moving closer to resuming international talks with Iran on its disputed nuclear program, buoyed by recent changes in Tehran’s leadership, officials said Friday.
“We are ready to come very quickly to talks,” said EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who has led negotiations with Iran in recent years over allegations it is seeking to build a nuclear weapons program.
President Barack Obama said the election of centrist Hasan Rouhani as Iran’s president in June offers “the opportunity to demonstrate in acts and not just words that ... they do not pursue nuclear weapons.”
French President François Hollande, who was in St. Petersburg with Obama for the Group of 20 summit, said “we want to believe in the statements of the new president” who has sounded more conciliatory than his predecessor.
Shiite militias warn against U.S. attack
BAGHDAD – Iranian-backed Shiite militias are threatening to retaliate against American interests inside Iraq if the United States goes ahead with strikes against the Tehran-allied government in neighboring Syria, according to Iraqi security officials and militants themselves.
Officials say they are taking the warnings seriously.
Cleric Wathiq al-Batat, who leads the Mukhtar Army, a shadowy Iranian-backed militia, said his forces are preparing for a strong reaction against the interests of the U.S. and other countries that take part in any Syria strike.
He claimed that militants have selected hundreds of potential targets.
Associated Press
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